2nd O. Man. Even to her temple are my feeble limbs travelling. Somecall her Pandora: some Gloriana, some Cynthia: some Delphœbe, someAstræa: all by several names to express several loves: yet all those namesmake but one celestial body, as all those loves meet to create but one soul.

1st O. Man. I am one of her own country, and we adore her by the nameof Eliza.

1st O. Man. That which all true subjects should: when I was young, anarmed hand; now I am crooked, an upright heart: but what offer you?

2nd O. Man. That which all strangers do: two eyes struck blind withadmiration: two lips proud to sound her glory: two hands held up full of prayersand praises: what not, that may express love? what not, that may make herbeloved?

1st O. Man. How long is't since you last beheld her?

2nd O. Man. A just year: yet that year hath seemed to me but one day,because her glory hath been my hourly contemplation, and yet that year hathseemed to me more than twice seven years, because so long I have been absentfrom her. Come therefore, good father, let's go faster, lest we come too late:for see, the tapers of the night are already lighted, and stand brightly burningin their starry candle-sticks: see how gloriously the moon shines upon us.

[Both kneel.]

1st O. Man. Peace, fool: tremble, and kneel: the moon say'st thou?Our eyes are dazzled by Eliza's beams,See (if at least thou dare see) where she sits:This is the great Pantheon of our goddess,And all those faces which thine eyes thought stars,Are nymphs attending on her deity.Prithee begin, for I want power to speak.

2nd O. Man. No, no, speak thou, I want words to begin.

[Weeps.

1st O. Man. Alack, what shall I do? com'st thou with me, And weep'st now thou behold'st this majesty?

2nd O. Man. Great landlady of hearts, pardon me.

1st O. Man. Blame not mine eyes, good father, in these tears.

2nd O. Man. My pure love shines, as thine doth in thy fears:I weep for joy to see so many headsOf prudent ladies, clothed in the liveryOf silver-handed age, for serving you,Whilst in your eyes youth's glory doth renew:I weep for joy to see the sun look old,To see the moon mad at her often change,To see the stars only by night to shine,Whilst you are still bright, still one, still divine:I weep for joy to see the world decay,Yet see Eliza flourishing like May:O pardon me your pilgrim, I have measuredMany a mile to find you: and have broughtOld Fortunatus and his family,With other Cypriots, my poor countrymen,To pay a whole year's tribute: O vouchsafe,Dread Queen of Fairies, with your gracious eyes,T'accept theirs and our humble sacrifice.

1st O. Man. Now I'll beg for thee too: and yet I need not:Her sacred hand hath evermore been known,As soon held out to strangers as her own.

2nd O. Man. Thou dost encourage me: I'll fetch them inThey have no princely gifts, we are all poor,Our offerings are true hearts, who can wish more? [Exeunt.

PROLOGUE.

OF Love's sweet war our timorous Muse doth sing,And to the bosom of each gentle dear,Offers her artless tunes, borne on the wingOf sacred poesy. A benumbing fear,That your nice souls, cloyed with delicious sounds,Will loath her lowly notes, makes her pull inHer fainting pinions, and her spirit confounds,Before the weak voice of her song begin.Yet since within the circle of each eye,Being like so many suns in his round sphere,No wrinkle yet is seen, she'll dare to fly,Borne up with hopes, that as you oft do rearWith your fair hands, those who would else sink down,So some will deign to smile, where all might frown:And for this small circumference must stand,For the imagined surface of much land,Of many kingdoms, and since many a mileShould here be measured out, our Muse entreatsYour thoughts to help poor art, and to allowThat I may serve as Chorus to her senses;She begs your pardon, for she'll send one forth,Not when the laws of poesy do call,But as the story needs; your gracious eyeGives life to Fortunatus' history. [Exit.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

ATHELSTANE, King of England.The Soldan of Egypt.The Prince of Cyprus.CORNWALL , CCHESTER, English Noble.LINCOLN, English Noble.MONTROSE, Scotch Noble.GALLOWAY, Scotch Noble.ORLEANS, French Noble.LONGAVILLE, French NobleINSULTADO, a Spanish Lord.FORTUNATUS.AMPEDO, Son of FORTUNATUS.ANDELOCIA, Son of FORTUNATUS.SHADOW, Servant to AMPEDO and ANDELOCIA.Kings, Nobles, Soldiers, Satyrs, a Carter, a Tailor, a Monk, a Shepherd, Chorus,Boys and other Attendants.AGRIPYNE, Daughter of ATHELSTANE.FORTUNE, Goddess.Virtue, Goddess.Vice, GoddessThe Three Destinies.Nymphs, Ladies, &c.

Fort. Ha, ha, ha, that's true, my best way out is my best way out, buthow that out will come in, by this maggot I know not. I see by this we are allworms' meat. Well, I am very poor and very patient; Patience is a virtue: wouldI were not virtuous, that's to say, not poor, but full of vice, that's to say,full of chinks. Ha, ha, so I am, for I am so full of chinks, that a horse withone eye may look through and through me. I have sighed long, and that makes mewindy; I have fasted long, and that makes me chaste; marry, I have prayedlittle, and that makes me I still dance in this conjuring circle; I havewandered long, and that makes me weary. But for my weariness, anon I'll liedown, instead of fasting I'll feed upon nuts, and instead of sighing will laughand be lean, Sirrah Echo.

Echo. Sirrah Echo.

Fort. Here's a nut.

Echo. Here's a nut.

Fort. Crack it.

Echo. Crack it.

Fort. Hang thyself.

Echo. Hang thyself.

Fort. Th'art a knave, a knave.

Echo. A knave, a knave.

Fort. Ha, ha, ha, ha!

Echo. Ha, ha, ha, ha!

Fort. Why so, two fools laugh at one another, I at my tittle tattlegammer Echo, and she at me. Shortly there will creep out in print some filthybook of the old hoary wandering knight, meaning me: would I were that book, forthen I should be sure to creep out from hence. I should be a good soldier, for Itraverse my ground rarely; marry I see neither enemy nor friends, but popinjays,and squirrels, and apes, and owls, and daws, and wagtails, and the spite is thatnone of these grasseaters can speak my language, but this fool that mocks me,and swears to have the last word, in spite of my teeth, ay, and she shall haveit because she is a woman, which kind of cattle are indeed all echo, nothing buttongue, and are like the great bell of St. Michael's in Cyprus, that keeps mostrumbling when men would most sleep. Echo, a pox on thee for mocking me.

Echo. A pox on thee for mocking me.

Fort. Why so, Snip snap, this war is at an end, but this wilderness isworld without end. To see how travel can transform: my teeth are turned intonutcrackers, a thousand to one I break out shortly, for I am full of nothing butwaxen kernels, my tongue speaks no language but an almond for a parrot, andcrack me this nut. If I hop three days more up and down this cage of cuckoos'nests, I shall turn wild man sure, and be hired to throw squibs among thecommonalty upon some terrible day. In the meantime, to tell truth, here will Ilie. Farewell, fool!

Echo. Farewell, fool.

Fort. Are not these comfortable words to a wise man? All hail, signortree, by your leave I'll sleep under your leaves. I pray bow to me, and I'llbend to you, for your back and my brows must, I doubt, have a game or two atnoddy ere I wake again: down, great heart, down. Hey, ho, well, well. [He liesdown and sleeps.

Enter a Shepherd, a Carter, a Tailor, and a Monk, all crowned;a Nymph with a globe, another with FORTUNE'S wheel; then FORTUNE.After her, four Kings with broken crowns and sceptres, chained in silvergyves and led by her. The foremost enter singing. FORTUNE takes her chair,the Kings lying at her feet so that she treads on them as she ascends to herseat.

SONG.

Fortune smiles, cry holiday, Dimples on her cheeks do dwell, Fortune frowns, cry welladay, Her love is Heaven, her hate is Hell: Since Heaven and Hell obey her power. Tremble when her eyes do lower, Since Heaven and Hell her power obey, When she smiles, cry holiday. Holiday with joy we cry And bend, and bend, and merrily Sing hymns to Fortune's deity, Sing hymns to Fortune's deity.Chorus. Let us sing, merrily, merrily, merrily, With our song let Heaven resound, Fortune's hands our heads have crowned; Let us sing merrily, merrily, merrily.

1st King. Accursed Queen of chance, what had we done,Who having sometimes like young Phaeton,Rid in the burnished chariot of the sun,And sometimes been thy minions, when thy fingersWeaved wanton love-nets in our curlèd hair,And with sweet juggling kisses warmed our cheeks:Oh how have we offended thy proud eyes,That thus we should be spurned and trod upon,Whilst those infected limbs of thesick world,Are fixed by thee for stars in that bright sphere,Wherein our sun-like radiance did appear.

The Kings. Accursèd Queen of chance, damned sorceress.

The Others. Most powerful Queen of chance, dread sovereigness.

Fortune. No more: curse on! your cries to me are music,And fill the sacred rondure of mine earsWith tunes more sweet than moving of the spheres:Curse on : on our celestial brows do sitUnnumbered smiles, which then leap from their throne,When they see peasants dance and monarchs groan.Behold you not this globe, this golden bowl,This toy called world, at our imperial feet?This world is Fortune's ball, wherewith she sports.Sometimes I strike it up into the air,And then create I emperors and kings:Sometimes I spurn it, at which spurn crawls outThat wild beast Multitude. Curse on, you fools,—'Tis I that tumble princes from their thrones,And gild false brows with glittering diadems.'Tis I that tread on necks of conquerors,And when, like demi-gods, they have been drawnIn ivory chariots to the capitol,Circled about with wonder of all eyes,The shouts of every tongue, love of all hearts,Being swoll'n with their own greatness, I have prickedThe bladder of their pride, and made them die,As water-bubbles, without memory.I thrust base cowards into Honour's chair,Whilst the true-spirited soldier stands byBare-headed, and all bare, whilst at his scarsThey scoff, that ne'er durst view the face of wars.I set an idiot's cap on Virtue's head,Turn Learning out of doors, clothe Wit in rags,And paint ten thousand images of loamIn gaudy silken colours. On the backsOf mules and asses I make asses ride,Only for sport, to see the apish worldWorship such beasts with sound idolatry.This Fortune does, and when this is done,She sits and smiles to hear some curse her name,And some with adoration crown her fame.

2nd King. Thou painted strumpet, that with honeyed smiles,Openest the gates of Heaven and criest, "Come in;"Whose glories being seen, thou with one frown,In pride, lower than hell tumblest us down.

The Kings. Ever, for ever, will we ban thy name.

Fortune. How sweet your howlings relish in mine ears!

[She comes down.

Stand by! now rise,—behold, here lies a wretch,To vex your souls, this beggar I'll advanceBeyond the sway of thought; take instruments,And let the raptures of choice harmony,Thorough the hollow windings of his ear,Carry their sacred sounds, and wake eachsense,To stand amazed at our bright eminence.

[Music. FORTUNATUS wakes.

Fort. Oh, how am I transported? Is this earth?Or blest Elysium?

Fortune. Fortunatus, rise.

Fort. Dread goddess, how should such a wretch as IBe known to such a glorious deity?Oh pardon me: for to this place I come,Led by my fate, not folly; in this woodWith weary sorrow have I wanderèd,And three times seen the sweating sun take rest,And three times frantic Cynthia naked rideAbout the rusty highways of the skiesStuck full of burning stars, which lent her lightTo court her negro paramour grim Night.

Fortune. This travel now expires: yet from this circle,Where I and these with fairy troops abide,Thou canst not stir, unless I be thy guide.I the world's empress am, Fortune my name,This hand hath written in thick leaves of steelAn everlasting book of changeless fate,Showing who's happy, who unfortunate.

Fort. If every name, dread queen, be there writ downI am sure mine stands in characters of black;Though happiness herself lie in my name,I am Sorrow's heir, and eldest son to Shame.

The Kings. No, we are sons to Shame, and Sorrow's heirs.

Fortune. Thou shalt be one of Fortune's minions:Behold these four chained like Tartarian slaves,These I created emperors and kings,And these are now my basest underlings:This sometimes was a German emperor,Henry the Fifth, who being first deposed,Was after thrust into a dungeon,And thus in silver chains shall rot to death.This Frederick Barbarossa, EmperorOf Almaine once: but by Pope AlexanderNow spurned and trod on when he takes his horse,And in these fetters shall he die his slave.This wretch once wore the diadem of France,Lewis the meek, but through his children's pride,Thus have I caused him to be famishèd.Here stands the very soul of misery,Poor Bajazet, old Turkish Emperor,And once the greatest monarch in the East;Fortune herself is said to view thy fall,And grieves to see thee glad to lick up crumbsAt the proud feet of that great Scythian swain,Fortune's best minion, warlike Tamburlaine:Yet must thou in a cage of iron be drawnIn triumph at his heels, and there in griefDash out they brains.

4th King. Oh miserable me!

Fortune. No tears can melt the heart of destiny:These have I ruined and exalted those.These hands have conquered Spain, these brows fill upThe golden circle of rich Portugal,—Viriat a monarch now, but born a shepherd;This Primislaus, a Bohemian king,Last day a carter; this monk, Gregory,Now lifted to the Papal dignity;—Wretches, why gnaw you not your fingers off,And tear your tongues out, seeing yourselves trod down,And this Dutch botcher wearing Munster's crown,John Leyden, born in Holland poor and base,Now rich in empery and Fortune's grace?As these I have advanced, so will I thee.Six gifts I spend upon mortality,Wisdom, strength, health, beauty, long life, and riches,Out of my bounty: one of these is thine,—Choose then which likes thee best.

Fortune. Before thy soul at this deep lotteryDraw forth her prize, ordained by destiny,Know that here's no recanting a first choice.Choose then discreetly for the laws of Fate,Being graven in steel, must stand inviolate.

Fortune. Stay, Fortunatus, once more hear me speak;If thou kiss Wisdom's cheek and make her thine,She'll breathe into thy lips divinity,And thou like Phæbus shalt speak oracle,Thy Heaven-inspired soul, on Wisdom's wings,Shall fly up to the Parliament of Jove,And read the statutes of eternity,And see what's past and learn what is to come.If thou lay claim to strength, armies shall quakeTo see thee frown: as kings at mine do lie,So shall thy feet trample on empery.Make health thine object, thou shalt be strong proof'Gainst the deep searching darts of surfeiting,Be ever merry, ever revelling.Wish but for beauty, and within thine eyesTwo naked Cupids amorously shall swim,And on thy cheeks I'll mix such white and red,That Jove shall turn away young Ganymede,And with immortal arms shall circle thee.Are thy desires long life?—thy vital threadShall be stretched out, thou shalt behold the changeOf monarchies and see those children die,Whose great great grandsires now in cradles lie.If through gold's sacred hunger thou dost pine,Those gilded wantons which in swarms do run,To warm their tender bodies in the sun,Shall stand for number of those golden piles,Which in rich pride shall swell before thy feet;As those are, so shall these be infinite.Awaken then thy soul's best faculties,And gladly kiss this bounteous hand of Fate,Which strives to bless thy name of Fortunate.

The Kings. Old man, take heed, her smiles will murder thee.

The Others. Old man, she'll crown thee with felicity.

Fort. Oh, whither am I rapt beyond myself?More violent conflicts fight in every thought,Than his whose fatal choice Troy's downfall wrought.Shall I contract myself to wisdom's love?Then I lose riches: and a wise man poor,Is like a sacred book that's never read,—To himself he lives, and to all else seems dead.This age thinks better of a gilded fool,Than of a threadbare saint in wisdom's school.I will be strong: then I refuse long life,And though mine arm should conquer twenty worlds,There's a lean fellow beats all conquerors:The greatest strength expires with loss of breath;The mightiest in one minute stoop to death.Then take long life, or health: should I do soI might grow ugly, and that tedious scrollOf months and years, much misery may enrollTherefore I'll beg for beauty; yet I will not,That fairest cheek hath oftentimes a soulLeprous as sin itself; than hell more foul.The wisdom of this world is idiotism,Strength a weak reed: health sickness' enemy,And it at length will have the victory.Beauty is but a painting, and long lifeIs a long journey in December gone,Tedious and full of tribulation.Therefore, dread sacred Empress, make me rich, [Kneels downMy choice is store of gold; the rich are wise.He that upon his back rich garments wears,Is wise, though on his head grow Midas' ears.Gold is the strength, the sinews of the world,The health, the soul, the beauty most divine,A mask of gold hides all deformities;Gold is Heaven's physic, life's restorative,Oh therefore make me rich: not as the wretch,That only serves lean banquets to his eye,Has gold, yet starves: is famished in his store:No, let me ever spend, be never poor.

Fortune. Thy latest words confine thy destiny,Thou shalt spend ever, and be never poor:For proof receive this purse: with it this virtueStill when thou thrust thy hand into the same,Thou shalt draw forth ten pieces of bright gold,Current in any realm where then thou breathest;If thou canst dribble out the sea by drops,Then shalt thou want: but that can ne'er be done,Nor this grow empty.

Fort. Thanks, great deity.

Fortune. The virtue ends when thou and thy sons end.This path leads thee to Cyprus, get thee hence;Farewell, vain covetous fool, thou wilt repent,That for the love of dross thou hast despisedWisdom's divine embrace, she would have borne theeOn the rich wings of immortality;But now go dwell with cares and quickly die.

Fort. But now go dwell with cares and quickly die? How quickly? if Idie to-morrow, I'll be merry to-day: if next day, I'll be merry to-morrow. Godwell with cares? Where dwells Care? Hum ha, in what house dwells Care, that Imay choose an honester neighbour? In princes' courts? No. Among fair ladies?Neither: there's no care dwells with them, but care how to be most gallant.Among gallants then? Fie, fie, no! Care is afraid sure of a giltrapier, thescent of musk is her prison, tobacco chokes her, rich attire presseth her todeath. Princes, fair ladies and gallants, have amongst you then, for this wet-eyed wench Care dwells with wretches: they are wretches that feel want, I shallfeel none if I be never poor; therefore, Care, I cashier you my company. Iwonder what blind gossip this minx is that is so prodigal; she should be a goodone by her open dealing: her name's Fortune: it's no matter what she is, so shedoes as she says. "Thou shalt spend ever, and be never poor." Mass, yet I feelnothing here to make me rich:—here's no sweet music with her silver sound.Try deeper: ho God be here: ha, ha, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven,eight, nine and ten, good, just ten. It's gold sure, it's so heavy, try again,one, two, &c. Good again, just ten, and just ten. Ha, ha, ha, this is rare: aleather mint, admirable: an Indian mine in a lamb's skin, miraculous! I'll fillthree or four bags full for my sons, but keep this for myself. If that leantawny face tobacconist Death, that turns all into smoke, must turn me so quicklyinto ashes, yet I will not mourn in ashes, but in music, hey, old lad, be merry.Here's riches, wisdom, strength, health, beauty, and long life (if I die notquickly). Sweet purse, I kiss thee; Fortune, I adore thee; Care, I despise thee;Death, I defy thee. [Exit.

SCENE II.—Outside the House of FORTUNATUS.

Enter AMPEDO, SHADOW after him, both sad: then ANDELOCIA.

Andel. 'Sheart, why how now: two knights of the post?

Shad. Ay, master, and we are both forsworn, as all such wooden knightsbe, for we both took an oath—marry it was not corporal, you may see by ourcheeks, that we would not fast twenty-four hours to amend, and we have tasted nomeat since the clock told two dozen.

Andel. That lacks not much of twenty-four, but I wonder when that half-faced moon of thine will be at the full.

Shad. The next quarter, not this, when the sign is in Taurus.

Andel. Ho, that's to say, when thou eat'st bull beef.But, Shadow, what day is to-day?

Shad. Fasting day.

Andel. What day was yesterday?

Shad. Fasting day too.

Andel. Will to-morrow be so too?

Shad. Ay, and next day too.

Andel. That will be rare, you slave:For a lean diet makes a fat wit.

Shad. I had rather be a fool and wear a fat pair of cheeks.

Andel. Now I am prouder of this poverty, which I know is mine own, thana waiting gentlewoman is of a frizzled groatsworth of hair, that never grew onher head. Sir Shadow, now we can all three swear like Puritans at one bare word:this want makes us like good bowlers, we are able to rub out and shift in everyplace.

Shad. That's not so, we have shifted ourselves in no place this threemonths: marry, we rub out in every corner, but here follows no amendment eitherof life or of livery.

Shad. Nay, by my troth, he is like me: if his belly be empty, his heartis full.

Andel. The famine of gold gnaws his covetous stomach, more than thewant of good victuals: thou hast looked very devilishly ever since the goodangel left thee: come, come, leave this broad-brim fashions; because the worldfrowns upon thee, wilt not thou smile upon us?

Amp. Did but the bitterness of mine own fortunesInfect my taste, I could paint o'er my cheeksWith ruddy-coloured smiles: 'tis not the wantOf costly diet or desire of goldEnforces rupture in my wounded breast.Oh no, our father—if he live—doth lieUnder the iron foot of misery,And, as a dove gripped in a falcon's claw,There pant'th for life being most assured of death.Brother, for him my soul thus languisheth.

Shad. 'Tis not for my old master that I languish.

Amp. I am not enamoured of this painted idol,This strumpet World; for her most beauteous looksAre poisoned baits, hung upon golden hooks:When fools do swim in wealth, her Cynthian beamsWill wantonly dance on the silver streams;But when this squint-eyed age sees Virtue poor,And by a little spark sits shivering,Begging at all, relieved at no man's door,She smiles on her, as the sun shines on fire,To kill that little heat, and, with her little frown,Is proud that she can tread poor Virtue down:Therefore her wrinkled brow makes not mine sour,Her gifts are toys, and I desire her power.

Shad. 'Tis not the crab-tree faced World neither that makes mine sour.

Andel. Her gifts toys! Well, brother Virtue, we have let slip the ripeplucking of those toys so long, that we flourish like apple-trees in September,which, having the falling sickness, bear neither fruit nor leaves.

Andel. Shadow, when thou provest a substance, then the tree of virtueand honesty, and such fruit of Heaven, shall flourish upon earth.

Shad. True; or when the sun shines at midnight, or women fly, and yetthey are light enough.

Andel. 'Twas never merry world with us, since purses and bags wereinvented, for now men set lime-twigs to catch wealth: and gold, which risethlike the sun out of the East Indies, to shine upon every one, is like a conytaken napping in a pursenet, and suffers his glistering yellow-face deity to belapped up in lambskins, as if the innocency of those leather prisons shoulddispense with the cheveril consciences of the iron-hearted gaolers.

Shad. Snudges may well be called gaolers: for if a poor wretch stealbut into a debt of ten pound, they lead him straight to execution.

Andel. Doth it not vex thee, Shadow, to stalk up and down Cyprus, andto meet the outside of a man, lapped all in damask, his head and beard as whiteas milk, only with conjuring in the snowy circles of the field argent, and hisnose as red as scarlet, only with kissing the ruddy lips of angels, and such animage to wear on his thumb, three men's livings in the shape of a seal ring,whilst my brother Virtue here,—

Shad. And you his brother Vice!

Andel. Most true, my little lean Iniquity—whilst we three, if weshould starve, cannot borrow five shillings of him neither in word nor deed:does not this vex thee, Shadow?

Shad. Not me; it vexes me no more to see such a picture, than to see anass laden with riches, because I know when he can bear no longer, he must leavehis burthen to some other beast.

Andel. Art not thou mad, to see money on goldsmiths' stalls, and nonein our purses?

Shad. It mads not me, I thank the destinies.

Andel. By my poverty, and that's but a thread-bare oath, I am more thanmad to see silks and velvets lie crowding together in mercers' shops, as inprisons, only for fear of the smell of wax—they cannot abide to see a manmade out of wax, for these satin commodities have such smooth consciences thatthey'll have no man give his word for them or stand bound for their comingforth, but vow to lie till they rot in those shop counters, except MonsieurMoney bail them. Shadow, I am out of my little wits to see this.

Shad. So is not Shadow: I am out of my wits, to see fat gluttons feedall day long, whilst I that am lean fast every day: I am out of my wits, to seeour Famagosta fools turn half a shop of wares into a suit of gay apparel, onlyto make other idiots laugh, and wise men to cry, who's the fool now? I am mad,to see soldiers beg, and cowards brave: I am mad, to see scholars in thebroker's shop, and dunces in the mercer's: I am mad, to see men that have nomore fashion in them than poor Shadow, yet must leap thrice a day into threeorders of fashions: I am mad, to see many things, but horn-mad, that my mouthfeels nothing.

Amp. The sons of Fortunatus had not wontThus to repine at others' happiness:But fools have always this loose garment wore,Being poor themselves, they wish all others poor.Fie, brother Andelocia, hate this madness,Turn your eyes inward, and behold your soul,That wants more than your body; burnish thatWith glittering virtue, and make idiots grieveTo see your beauteous mind in wisdom shine,As you at their rich poverty repine.

Shad. 'Tis no wonder to see a man brave, but a wonder how he comesbrave.

Fort. Dear Andelocia and son Ampedo,And my poor servant Shadow, plume your spiritsWith light-winged mirth; for Fortunatus' handCan now pour golden showers into their lapsThat sometimes scorned him for his want of gold.Boys, I am rich, and you shall ne'er be poor;Wear gold, spend gold, we all in gold will feed,Now is your father Fortunate indeed.

Andel. Father, be not angry, if I set open the windows of my mind: Idoubt for all your bragging, you'll prove like most of our gallants inFamagosta, that have a rich outside and a beggarly inside, and like mules weargay trappings, and good velvet foot-cloths on their backs, yet champ on the ironbit of penury—I mean, want coin. You gild our ears with a talk of gold, butI pray dazzle our eyes with the majesty of it.

Fort. First will I wake your senses with the soundOf gold's sweet music: tell me what you hear?

Amp. Believe me, sir, I hear not any thing.

Andel. Ha, ha, ha. 'Sheart, I thought as much; if I hear any jingling,but of the purse strings that go flip flap, flip flap, flip flap, would I wereturned into a flip-flap, and sold to the butchers!

Fort. Shadow, I'll try thine ears; hark, dost rattle?

Shad. Yes, like three blue beans in a blue bladder, rattle bladder,rattle: your purse is like my belly, th' one's without money, th' other withoutmeat.

Andel. We the wags have gold, father; but I think there's not one angelmore wagging in this sacred temple. Why, this is rare: Shadow, five will servethy turn, give me th' other five.

Shad. Nay, soft, master, liberality died long ago. I see some richbeggars are never well, but when they be craving: my ten ducats are like my tenfingers, they will not jeopard a joint for you. I am yours, and these are mine;if I part from them, I shall never have part of them.

Amp. Father, if Heaven have blest you once again,Let not an open hand disperse that store,Which gone, life's gone; for all tread down the poor.

Fort. Peace, Ampedo, talk not of poverty.Disdain, my boys, to kiss the tawny cheeksOf lean necessity: make not inquiryHow I came rich; I am rich, let that suffice.There are four leathern bags trussed full of gold:Those spent, I'll fill you more. Go, lads, be gallant:Shine in the streets of Cyprus like two stars,And make them bow their knees that once did spurn you;For, to effect such wonders, gold can turn you.Brave it in Famagosta, or elsewhere;I'll travel to the Turkish Emperor,And then I'll revel it with Prester John,Or banquet with great Cham of Tartary,And try what frolic court the Soldan keeps.I'll leave you presently. Tear off these rags;Glitter, my boys, like angels, that the worldMay, whilst our life in pleasure's circle roams,Wonder at Fortunatus and his sons.

Andel. Come, Shadow, now we'll feast it royally.

Shad. Do, master, but take heed of beggary.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.—A Wood in Cyprus.

Music sounds. Enter VICE with a gilded face, and horns on her head; hergarments long, painted before with silver half-moons, increasing by little andlittle till they come to the full; while in the midst of them is written incapital letters, "Crescit Eundo." Behina her garments are painted withfools' faces and heads; and in the midst is written, "Ha, Ha, He." She, andothers wearing gilded vizards and attired like devils, bring out a fair tree ofgold with apples on it.

After her comes VIRTUE, with a coxcomb on her head, and her attire allin white before; about the middle is written "Sibi sapit." Her attire behindis painted with crowns and laurel garlands, stuck full of stars held by handsthrust out of bright clouds, and among them is written, "Dominabitur astris."She and other nymphs, all in white with coxcombs on their heads, bring a treewith green and withered leaves mingled together, and with little fruit on it.

After her comes FORTUNE, with two Nymphs, one bearing her wheel,another her globe.

And last, the Priest.

Fortune. You ministers of Virtue, Vice, and Fortune,Tear off this upper garment of the earth,And in her naked bosom stick these trees.

Virtue. How many kingdoms have I measured,Only to find a climate, apt to cherishThese withering branches? But no ground can proveSo happy; ay me, none do Virtue love.I'll try this soil; if here I likewise fade,To Heaven I'll fly, from whence I took my birth,And tell the Gods, I am banished from the earth.

Vice. Virtue, I am sworn thy foe: if there thou plant,Here, opposite to thine, my tree shall flourish,And as the running wood-bine spreads her arms,To choke thy withering boughs in their embrace,I'll drive thee from this world: were Virtue fled,Vice as an angel should be honourèd.

Fortune. Servants of this bright devil and that poor saint,Apply your task whilst you are labouring:To make your pains seem short our priest shall sing.

[Whilst the Priest sings, the rest set the trees into the earth.

SONG.

Virtue's branches wither, Virtue pines, O pity, pity, and alack the time, Vice doth flourish, Vice in glory shines, Her gilded boughs above the cedar climb. Vice hath golden cheeks, O pity, pity, She in every land doth monarchize. Virtue is exiled from every city, Virtue is a fool, Vice only wise. O pity, pity, Virtue weeping dies. Vice laughs to see her faint,—alack the time. This sinks; with painted wings the other flies: Alack that best should fall, and bad should climb. O pity, pity, pity, mourn, not sing, Vice is a saint, Virtue an underling. Vice doth flourish, Vice in glory shines, Virtue's branches wither, Virtue pines.

Fortune. Flourish or wither, Fortune cares not which,In either's fall or height our eminenceShines equal to the sun: the Queen of chanceBoth virtuous souls and vicious doth advance.These shadows of yourselves shall, like yourselves,Strive to make men enamoured of their beauties;This grove shall be our temple, and henceforthBe consecrated to our deities.

Virtue. How few will come and kneel at Virtue's shrine?

Vice. This contents Virtue, that she is called divine.

Fortune. Poor Virtue, Fortune grieves to see thy looksWant cunning to entice: why hang these leaves,As loose as autumn's hair which every windIn mockery blows from his rotten brows?Why like a drunkard art thou pointed at?Why is this motley-scorn set on thy head?Why stands thy court wide open, but none in it?Why are the crystal pavements of thy temple,Not worn, not trod upon? All is for this,Because thy pride is to wear base attire,Because thine eyes flame not with amorous fire.

Virtue. Virtue is fairest in a poor array.

Fortune. Poor fool, 'tis not this badge of purity,Nor Sibi sapit, painted on thy breast,Allures mortality to seek thy love.No: now the great wheel of thy globe hath run,And met this first point of creation.On crutches went this world but yesterday,Now it lies bed-rid, and is grown so old,That it's grown young; for 'tis a child again,A childish soul it hath, 'tis a mere fool:And fools and children are well pleased with toys.So must this world, with shows it must be pleased,Then, Virtue, buy a golden face like Vice,And hang thy bosom full of silver moons,To tell the credulous world, As those increase,As the bright moon swells in her pearlèd sphere,So wealth and pleasures them to Heaven shall rear.

Virtue. Virtue abhors to wear a borrowed face.

Vice. Why hast thou borrowed, then, that idiot's hood?

Virtue. Fools placed it on my head that knew me not,And I am proud to wear the scorn of fools.

Fortune. Mourn in that pride and die, all the world hates thee.

Virtue. Not all, I'll wander once more through the world:Wisdom I know hath with her blessèd wingsFled to some bosom: if I meet that breast,There I'll erect my temple, and there rest.Fortune nor Vice shall then e'er have the powerBy their loose eyes to entice my paramour.Then will I cast off this deformity,And shine in glory, and triumph to seeYou conquered at my feet, that tread on me.

Fortune. Virtue begins to quarrel: Vice, farewell.

Vice. Stay, Fortune, whilst within this grove we dwell,If my angelical and saint-like formCan win some amorous fool to wanton here,And taste the fruit of this alluring tree,Thus shall his saucy brows adornèd be,To make us laugh. [Makes horns.

Fortune. It will be rare: adieu.

Virtue. Foul, hell-bred fiend, Virtue shall strive with you,If any be enamoured of thine eyes,Their love must needs beget deformities.Men are transformed to beasts, feasting with sin;But if in spite of thee their souls I win,To taste this fruit, though thou disguise their head,Their shapes shall be re-metamorphosèd.

Vice. I dare thee do thy worst.

Virtue. My best I'll try.

Fort. Fortune shall judge who wins the sovereignty.

[Exeunt.

ACT THE SECOND.

Enter Chorus.

CHORUS. The world to the circumference of HeavenIs as a small point in geometry,Whose greatness is so little, that a lessCannot be made: into that narrow room,Your quick imaginations we must charm,To turn that world: and turned, again to part itInto large kingdoms, and within one momentTo carry Fortunatus on the wingsOf active thought, many a thousand miles.Suppose then, since you last beheld him here,That you have sailed with him upon the seas,And leapt with him upon the Asian shores,Been feasted with him in the Tartar's palace,And all the courts of each barbarian king:From whence being called by some unlucky star,—For happiness never continues long,Help me to bring him back to Arragon,Where for his pride—riches make all men proud—On slight quarrel, by a covetous Earl,Fortune's dear minion is imprisonèd.There think you see him sit with folded arms,Tears dropping down his cheeks, his white hairs torn,His legs in rusty fetters, and his tongueBitterly cursing that his squint-eyed soulDid not make choice of wisdom's sacred love.Fortune, to triumph in inconstancy,From prison bails him: liberty is wild,For being set free, he like a lusty eagleCut with his vent'rous feathers through the sky,And 'lights not till he find the Turkish court.Thither transport your eyes, and there behold him,Revelling with the Emperor of the East,From whence through fear, for safeguard of his life,Flying into the arms of ugly Night,Suppose you see him brought to Babylon;And that the sun clothed all in fire hath ridOne quarter of his hot celestial wayWith the bright morning, and that in this instant,He and the Soldan meet, but what they say,Listen you—the talk of kings none dare bewray. [Exit.

SCENE I.—The Court at Babylon.

Enter the SOLDAN, Noblemen, and FORTUNATUS.

SOLD. Art thou that Fortunatus, whose great name,Being carried in the chariot of the winds,Hast filled the courts of all our Asian kingsWith love and envy, whose dear presence tiesThe eyes of admiration to thine eyes?Art thou that Jove that in a shower of goldAppeared'st before the Turkish Emperor?

Fort. I am that Fortunatus, mighty Soldan.

Sold. Where is that purse which threw abroad such treasure?

Fort. I gave it to the Turkish Soliman,A second I bestowed on Prester John,A third the great Tartarian Cham received:For with these monarchs have I banqueted,And rid with them in triumph through their courts,In crystal chariots drawn by unicorns.England, France, Spain, and wealthy Belgia,And all the rest of Europe's blessed daughters,Have made my covetous eye rich in th' embraceOf their celestial beauties; now I comeTo see the glory of fair Babylon.Is Fortunatus welcome to the Soldan?For I am like the sun, if Jove once chide,My gilded brows from amorous Heaven I hide.

Sold. Most welcome, and most happy are mine armsIn circling such an earthly deity;But will not Fortunatus make me blessedBy sight of such a purse?

Fort. Ere I depart,The Soldan shall receive one at my hands:For I must spend some time in framing it,And then some time to breathe that virtuous spiritInto the heart thereof, all which is doneBy a most sacred inspiration.

Sold. Welcome, most welcome to the Soldan's court;Stay here and be the King of Babylon:Stay here, I will more amaze thine eyesWith wondrous sights, than can all Asia.Behold you town, there stands mine armoury,In which are corselets forged of beaten gold,To arm ten hundred thousand fighting men,Whose glittering squadrons when the sun beholds,They seem like to ten hundred thousand Joves,When Jove on the proud back of thunder rides,Trapped all in lightning flames: there can I show theeThe ball of gold that set all Troy on fire;There shalt thou see the scarf of Cupid's motherSnatched from the soft moist ivory of her arm,To wrap about Adonis' wounded thigh;There shalt thou see a wheel of Titan's care,Which dropped from Heaven when Phaeton fired the world:I'll give thee, if thou wilt, two silver dovesComposed by magic to divide the air,Who, as they fly, shall clap their silver wings,And give strange music to the elements;I'll give thee else the fan of Proserpine,Which in reward for a sweet Thracian song,The black-browed Empress threw to Orpheus,Being come to fetch Eurydice from hell.

Fort. Hath ever mortal eye beheld these wonders?

Sold. Thine shall behold them, and make choice of any,So thou wilt give the Soldan such a purse.

Fort. By Fortune's blessèd hand, who christened me,The mighty Soldan shall have such a purse,Provided I may see these priceless wonders.

Sold. Leave us alone: [Exeunt Nobles.] never was mortal earAcquainted with the virtue of a jewel,Which now I'll show, out-valuing all the rest.

Sold. I'll not exchange this for ten diadems.On pain of death, none listen to our talk.

Fort. What needs this solemn conjuration!

Sold. O, yes, for none shall understand the worthOf this inestimable ornament,But you: and yet not you, but that you swearBy her white hand, that lent you such a name,To leave a wondrous purse in Babylon.

Fort. What I have sworn, I will not violate,But now uncover the virtues of this hat.

Sold. I think none listen; if they do, they die.

Fort. None listen: tell, what needs this jealousy?

Sold. You see 'tis poor in show; did I want jewels,Gold could beget them, but the wide world's wealthBuys not this hat: this clapped upon my head,I, only with a wish, am through the airTransported in a moment over seasAnd over lands to any secret place;By this I steal to every prince's court,And hear their private counsels and preventAll dangers which to Babylon are meant;By help of this I oft see armies join,Though when the dreadful Alvarado sounds,I am distant from the place a thousand leagues.Oh, had I such a purse and such a hat,The Soldan were, of all, most fortunate.

Fort. Oh, had I such a hat, then were I brave.Where's he that made it?

Sold. Dead, and the whole worldYields not a workman that can frame the like.

Fort. No, does't? By what trick shall I make this mine? [Aside.Methinks, methinks, when you are borne o'er seas,And over lands, the heaviness thereofShould weigh you down, drown you, or break your neck.

Sold. No gates, no grates of iron imprison him,Like a magician breaks he through the clouds,Bearing my soul with him, for that jewel gone,I am dead, and all is dross in Babylon.Fly after him!—'tis vain: on the wind's wings,He'll ride through all the courts of earthly kings.

Shad. It comes to nothing, sir, for you have lost your wits; and when aman's wits are lost, the man is like twenty pounds' worth of tobacco, whichmounts into th' air, and proves nothing but one thing.

Andel. And what thing is that, you ass?

Shad. Marry, sir, that he is an ass that melts so much money in smoke.

Andel. 'Twere a charitable deed to hang thee a smoking.

Shad. I should never make good bacon, because I am not fat.

Andel. I'll be sworn thy wit is lean.

Shad. It's happy I have a lean wit: but, master, you have none; forwhen your money tripped away, that went after it, and ever since you have beenmad. Here comes your brother.

Enter AMPEDO.

Borrow a dram of him, if his be not mouldy: for men's wits in these days arelike the cuckoo, bald once a year, and that makes motley so dear, and fools sogood cheap.

Andel. Brother, all hail.

Shad. There's a rattling salutation.

Andel. You must lend me some more money. Nay, never look so strange, anyou will come off, so; if you will bar me from square play, do. Come, come, whenthe old traveller my father comes home, like a young ape, full of fantastictricks, or a painted parrot stuck full of outlandish feathers, he'll lead theworld in a string, and then like a hot shot I'll charge and discharge all.

Shad. I would be loth, master, to see that day: for he leads the worldin a string that goes to hanging.

Andel. Take heed I turn not that head into the world, and lead you so.Brother wilt be? Ha' ye any ends of gold or silver?

Amp. Thus wanton revelling breeds beggary.Brother, 'twere better that you still lived poor.Want would make wisdom rich: but when your coffersSwell to the brim, then riot sets up sails,And like a desperate unskilled marinerDrives your unsteady fortunes on the pointOf wreck inevitable. Of all the wealthLeft by our father, when he left us last,This little is unspent, and this being wasted,Your riot ends; therefore consume it all.I'll live; or dying, find some burial.

Shad. There's no man but loves one of these three beasts, a horse, ahound, or a whore; the horse by his goodwill has his head ever in the manger;the whore with your ill will has her hand ever in your purse; and a hungry dogeats dirty puddings.

Andel. This is profound, forward: the conclusion of this now.

Shad. The conclusion is plain: for since all men love one of thesethree monsters, being such terrible eaters, therefore all men love hunger.

Amp. A very lean argument.

Shad. I can make it no fatter.

Andel. Proceed, good Shadow; this fats me.

Shad. Hunger is made of gunpowder.

Andel. Give fire to that opinion.

Shad. Stand by, lest it blow you up. Hunger is made of gunpowder, orgunpowder of hunger, for they both eat through stone walls; hunger is agrindstone, it sharpens wit; hunger is fuller of love than Cupid, for it makes aman eat himself; hunger was the first that ever opened a cook-shop, cooks thefirst that ever made sauce, sauce being liquorish, licks up good meat; good meatpreserves life: hunger therefore preserves life.

Amp. By my consent thou shouldst still live by hunger.

Shad. Not so, hunger makes no man mortal: hunger is an excellentphysician, for he dares kill any body. Hunger is one of the seven liberalsciences.

Andel. Oh learned! Which of the seven?

Shad. Music, for she'll make a man leap at a crust; but as few care forher six sisters, so none love to dance after her pipe. Hunger, master, is hungryand covetous; therefore the crusado.

Andel. But hast thou no sharper reasons than this?

Shad. Yes, one: the dagger of Cyprus had never stabbed out such sixpenny pipes, but for hunger.

Andel. Why, you dolt, these pipes are but in their minority.

Shad. My belly and my purse have been twenty times at dagger's drawing,with parting the little urchins.

Shad. If your wits be not planet stricken, if your brains lie in theirright place, you are well enough; for your body is little mended by yourfetching vagaries.

Andel. Methinks, father, you look as you did, only your face is morewithered.

Fort. That's not my fault; age is like love, it cannot be hid.

Shad. Or like gunpowder a-fire, or like a fool, or like a young novicenew come to his lands: for all these will show of what house they come. Now,sir, you may amplify.

Fort. Shadow, turn thy tongue to a shadow, be silent! Boys, be proud,your father hath the whole world in this compass, I am all felicity, up to thebrims. In a minute am I come from Babylon, I have been this half-hour inFamagosta.

Andel. How? in a minute, father? Ha, ha, I see travellers must lie.

Shad. 'Tis their destiny: the Fates do so conspire.

Fort. I have cut through the air like a falcon; I would have it seemstrange to you.

Shad. So it does, sir.

Fort. But 'tis true: I would not have you believe it neither.

Shad. No more we do not, sir.

Fort. But 'tis miraculous and true. Desire to see you, brought me toCyprus. I'll leave you more gold, and go visit more countries.

Shad. Leave us gold enough, and we'll make all countries come visit us.

Amp. The frosty hand of age now nips your blood,And strews her snowy flowers upon your head,And gives you warning that within few years,Death needs must marry you: those short-lived minutes,That dribble out your life, must needs be spentIn peace, not travel: rest in Cyprus then.Could you survey ten worlds, yet you must die;And bitter is the sweet that's reaped thereby.

Andel. Faith, father, what pleasure have you met by walking yourstations?

Fort. What pleasure, boy? I have revelled with kings, danced withqueens, dallied with ladies, worn strange attires, seen fantasticos, conversedwith humorists, been ravished with divine raptures of Doric, Lydian and Phrygianharmonies. I have spent the day in triumphs, and the night in banqueting.

Andel. Oh rare: this was heavenly.

Shad. Methinks 'twas horrible.

Andel. He that would not be an Arabian phœnix to burn in thesesweet fires, let him live like an owl for the world to wonder at.

Amp. Why, brother, are not all these vanities?

Fort. Vanities? Ampedo, thy soul is made of lead, too dull, tooponderous to mount up to the incomprehensible glory that travel lifts men to.

Shad. My old master's soul is cork and feathers, and being so lightdoth easily mount up.

Andel. Sweeten mine ears, good father, with some more.

Fort. When in the warmth of mine own country's armsWe yawned like sluggards, when this small horizonImprisoned up my body, then mine eyesWorshipped these clouds as brightest; but, my boys,The glist'ring beams which do abroad appearIn other heavens,—fire is not half so clear.

Shad. Why, sir, are there other heavens in other countries?

Andel. Peace; interrupt him not upon thy life.

Fort. For still in all the regions I have seen,I scorned to crowd among the muddy throngOf the rank multitude, whose thickened breath,Like to condensèd fogs, do choke that beauty,Which else would dwell in every kingdom's cheek.No, I still boldly stept into their courts,For there to live 'tis rare, O 'tis divine;There shall you see faces angelical,There shall you see troops of chaste goddesses,Whose star-like eyes have power, might they still shine,To make night day, and day more crystalline.Near these you shall behold great heroes,White-headed counsellors and jovial spirits,Standing like fiery cherubims to guardThe monarch, who in god-like glory sitsIn midst of these, as if this deityHad with a look created a new world,The standers by being the fair workmanship.

Andel. Oh how my soul is rapt to a third heaven.I'll travel sure, and live with none but kings.

Shad. Then Shadow must die among knaves; and yet why so? In a bunch ofcards, knaves wait upon the kings.

Andel. When I turn king, then shalt thou wait on me.

Shad. Well, there's nothing impossible: a dog has his day, and so haveyou.

Amp. But tell me, father, have you in all courtsBeheld such glory, so majesticalIn all perfection, no way blemishèd?

Fort. In some courts shall you see ambitionSit piercing Dedalus' old waxen wings,But being clapped on, and they about to fly,Even when their hopes are busied in the clouds,They melt against the sun of majesty,And down they tumble to destruction:For since the Heaven's strong arms teach kings to stand,Angels are placed about their glorious throne,To guard it from the strokes of trait'rous hands.By travel, boys, I have seen all these things.Fantastic compliment stalks up and down,Tricked in outlandish feathers, all his words,His looks, his oaths, are all ridiculous,All apish, childish, and Italianate.

Enter FORTUNE in the background: after her The Three Destinies,working.

Shad. I know a medicine for that malady.

Fort. By travel, boys, I have seen all these things.

Andel. And these are sights for none but gods and kings.

Shad. Yes, and for Christian creatures, if they be not blind.

Fort. In these two hands do I grip all the world.This leather purse, and this bald woollen hatMake me a monarch. Here's my crown and sceptre!In progress will I now go through the world.I'll crack your shoulders, boys, with bags of goldEre I depart; on Fortune's wings I ride,And now sit in the height of human pride.

Fortune. Thou art no son of Fortune, but her slave:Thy cedar hath aspired to his full height.Thy sun-like glory hath advanced herselfInto the top of pride's meridian,And down amain it comes. From beggaryI plumed thee like an ostrich, like that ostrichThou hast eaten metals, and abused my gifts,Hast played the ruffian, wasted that in riotsWhich as a blessing I bestowed on thee.

Shad. For anger to see any of God's creatures have such filthy faces asthese sempsters had that went hence.

Andel. Sempsters? why, you ass, they are Destinies.

Shad. Indeed, if it be one's destiny to have a filthy face, I know noremedy but to go masked and cry "Woe worth the Fates."

Amp. Why droops my father? these are only shadows,Raised by the malice of some enemy,To fright your life, o'er which they have no power.

Shad. Shadows? I defy their kindred.

Fort. O Ampedo, I faint; help me, my sons.

Andel. Shadow, I pray thee run and call more help.

Shad. If that desperate Don Dego Death hath ta'en up the cudgels once,here's never a fencer in Cyprus dare take my old master's part.

Andel. Run, villain, call more help.

Shad. Bid him thank the Destinies for this. [Exit.

Fort. Let me shrink down, and die between your arms,Help comes in vain. No hand can conquer fate,This instant is the last of my life's date.This goddess, if at least she be a goddess,Names herself Fortune: wand'ring in a wood,Half famished, her I met. I have, quoth she,Six gifts to spend upon mortality,Wisdom, strength, health, beauty, long life and riches.Out of my bounty one of these is thine.

Amp. What benefit did from yourchoice arise?

Fort. Listen, my sons! in this small compass liesInfinite treasure: this she gave to me,And gave to this, this virtue, Take, quoth she,So often as from hence thou draw'st thy hand,Ten golden pieces of that kingdom's coin,Where'er thou liv'st; which plenteous sure shall last,After thy death, till thy sons' lives do waste.

Andel. Father, your choice was rare, the gift divine.

Fort. It had been so, if riches had been mine.

Amp. But hath this golden virtue never failed?

Fort. Never.

Andel. O admirable: here's a fireHath power to thaw the very heart of death,And give stones life; by this most sacred breath,See brother, here's all India in my hand.

Andel. How, father? jewel? call you this a jewel? it's coarse wool, abald fashion, and greasy to the brim; I have bought a better felt for a Frenchcrown forty times: of what virtuous block is this hat, I pray?

Fort. Set it upon thy head, and wish a wish,Thou in the moment, on the wind's swift wings,Shalt be transported into any place.

Andel. A wishing hat, and a golden mine?

Fort. O Andelocia, Ampedo, now DeathSounds his third summons, I must hence! These jewelsTo both I do bequeath; divide them not,But use them equally: never bewrayWhat virtues are in them; for if you do,Much shame, much grief, much danger follows you.Peruse this book; farewell! behold in meThe rotten strength of proud mortality. [Dies.

Amp. His soul is wandering to the Elysian shades.

Andel. The flower that's fresh at noon, at sunset fades.

Brother, close you down his eyes, because you were his eldest; and withthem close up your tears, whilst I as all younger brothers do, shift for myself:let us mourn, because he's dead, but mourn the less, because he cannot revive.The honour we can do him, is to bury him royally; let's about it then, for I'llnot melt myself to death with scalding sighs, nor drop my soul out at mine eyes,were my father an emperor.

Amp. Hence, hence, thou stop'st the tide of my true tears.True grief is dumb, though it hath open ears.

Andel. Yet God send my grief a tongue, that I may have good utterancefor it: sob on, brother mine, whilst you sigh there, I'll sit and read whatstory my father has written here.

[They both fall asleep: FORTUNE and a company of Satyrsenter with music, and playing about FORTUNATUS' body, take it away.Afterwards SHADOW enters running.

Shad. I can get none, I can find none: where are you, master? Have Ita'en you napping? and you too? I see sorrow's eye-lids are made of a dormouseskin, they seldom open, or of a miser's purse, that's always shut. So ho,master.

Andel. Shadow, why how now? what's the matter?

Shad. I can get none, sir, 'tis impossible.

Amp. What is impossible? what canst not get?

Shad. No help for my old master.

Andel. Hast thou been all this while calling for help?

Shad. Yes, sir: he scorned all Famagosta when he was in his huffing,and now he lies puffing for wind, they say they scorn him.

Amp. The poison of their scorn infects not him;He wants no help. See where he breathless lies:Brother, to what place have you borne his body?

Andel. I bear it? I touched it not.

Amp. Nor I: a leaden slumber pressed mine eyes.

Shad. Whether it were lead or latten that hasped down those winkingcasements, I know not, but I found you both snorting.

Amp. And in that sleep, methought, I heard the tunes Of sullen passions apt for funerals,And saw my father's lifeless body borneBy Satyrs: O I fear that deityHath stolen him hence!—that snudge, his destiny.

Andel. I fear he's risen again; didst not thou meet him?

Shad. I, sir? do you think this white and red durst have kissed mysweet cheeks, if they had seen a ghost? But, master, if the Destinies, orFortune, or the Fates, or the Fairies have stolen him, never indict them for thefelony: for by this means the charges of a tomb is saved, and you being hisheirs, may do as many rich executors do, put that money in your purses, and giveout that he died a beggar.

Andel. Away, you rogue, my father die a beggar!I'll build a tomb for him of massy gold.

Shad. Methinks, master, it were better to let the memory of him shinein his own virtues, if he had any, than in alabaster.

Andel. Brother, come, come, mourn not; our father is but stepped toagree with Charon for his boat hire to Elysium. See, here's a story of all histravels; this book shall come out with a new addition: I'll tread after myfather's steps; I'll go measure the world, therefore let's share these jewels,take this, or this!

Amp. Will you then violate our father's will?

Andel. A Puritan!—keep a dead man's will? Indeed in the old time,when men were buried in soft churchyards, that their ghosts might rise, it wasgood: but, brother, now they are imprisoned in strong brick and marble, they arefast. Fear not: away, away, these are fooleries, gulleries, trumperies; here'sthis or this, or I am gone with both!

Amp. Do you as you please, the sin shall not be mine. Fools call thosethings profane that are divine.

Andel. Are you content to wear the jewels by turns? I'll have the pursefor a year, you the hat, and as much gold as you'll ask; and when my pursershipends, I'll resign, and cap you.

Amp. I am content to bear all discontents. [Exit.

Andel. I should serve this bearing ass rarely now, if I should load him,but I will not. Though conscience be like physic, seldom used, for so it doesleast hurt, yet I'll take a dram of it. This for him, and some gold: this forme; for having this mint about me, I shall want no wishing cap. Gold is aneagle, that can fly to any place, and, like death, that dares enter all places.Shadow, wilt thou travel with me?

Shad. I shall never fadge with the humour because I cannot lie.

Andel. Thou dolt, we'll visit all the kings' courts in the world.

Shad. So we may, and return dolts home, but what shall we learn bytravel?

Shad. Nothing? yes, you may see things enough, for what can you seeabroad that is not at home? The same sun calls you up in the morning, and thesame man in the moon lights you to bed at night; our fields are as green astheirs in summer, and their frosts will nip us more in winter: our birds sing assweetly and our women are as fair: in other countries you shall have one drinkto you; whilst you kiss your hand, and duck, he'll poison you: I confess youshall meet more fools, and asses, and knaves abroad than at home. Yet God bethanked we have pretty store of all. But for punks, we put them down.

Andel. Prepare thy spirits, for thou shalt go with me.To England shall our stars direct our course;Thither the Prince of Cyprus, our king's son,Is gone to see the lovely Agripyne.Shadow, we'll gaze upon that English dame,And try what virtue gold has to inflame.First to my brother, then away let's fly;Shadow must be a courtier ere he die. [Exit.

Shad. If I must, the Fates shall be served: I have seen many clownscourtiers, then why not Shadow? Fortune, I am for thee. [Exit.

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.—London. The Court of ATHELSTANE

Enter ORLEANS melancholy, GALLOWAY with him; a Boy after them witha lute.

ORLE. Begone: leave that with me, and leave me to myself; if the king ask forme, swear to him I am sick, and thou shalt not lie; pray thee leave me.

Boy. I am gone, sir. [Exit.

Orle. This music makes me but more out of tune.O, Agripyne.

Gall. Gentle friend, no more.Thou sayest love is a madness, hate it then,Even for the name's sake.

Orle. O, I love that madness,Even for the name's sake.

Gall. Let me tame this frenzy,By telling thee thou art a prisoner here,By telling thee she's daughter to a king,By telling thee the King of Cyprus' sonShines like a sun, between her looks and thine,Whilst thou seem'st but a star to Agripyne:He loves her.

Gall. Dear friend, thou art deceived: O bid thy soulLift up her intellectual eyes to Heaven,And in this ample book of wonders read,Of what celestial mould, what sacred essence,Herself is formed, the search whereof will driveSounds musical among the jarring spirits,And in sweet tune set that which none inherits.

Gall. O, call this madness in; see, from the windowsOf every eye derision thrusts out cheeks,Wrinkled with idiot laughter; every fingerIs like a dart shot from the hand of scorn,By which thy name is hurt, thine honour torn.

Orle. Laugh they at me, sweet Galloway?

Gall. Even at thee.

Orle. Ha, ha, I laugh at them, are not they madThat let my true true sorrow make them glad?I dance and sing only to anger grief,That in that anger, he might smite life downWith his iron fist. Good heart, it seemeth then,They laugh to see grief kill me: O, fond men,You laugh at others' tears; when others smile,You tear yourselves in pieces: vile, vile, vile!Ha, ha, when I behold a swarm of fools,Crowding together to be counted wise,I laugh because sweet Agripyne's not there,But weep because she is not anywhere,And weep because whether she be or not,My love was ever, and is still, forgot: forgot, forgot, forgot.

Gall. Draw back this stream, why should my Orleans mourn?

Orle. Look yonder, Galloway, dost thou see that sunNay, good friend, stare upon it, mark it well,Ere he be two hours older, all that gloryIs banished Heaven, and then for grief this sky,That's now so jocund, will mourn all in black,And shall not Orleans mourn? Alack, alack!O what a savage tyranny it wereT'enforce care laugh, and woe not shed a tear!Dead is my love, I am buried in her scorn,That is my sunset, and shall I not mourn?Yes, by my troth I will.

Gall. Dear friend, forbear,Beauty, like sorrow, dwelleth everywhere.Rase out this strong idea of her face,As fair as hers shineth in any place.

Orle. Thou art a traitor to that white and red,Which, sitting on her cheeks, being Cupid's throne,Is my heart's sovereign: O, when she is dead,This wonder, beauty, shall be found in none.Now Agripyne's not mine, I vow to beIn love with nothing but deformity.O fair Deformity, I muse all eyesAre not enamoured of thee: thou didst neverMurder men's hearts, or let them pine like wax,Melting against the sun of destiny;Thou art a faithful nurse to chastity;Thy beauty is not like to Agripyne's,For cares, and age, and sickness hers deface,But thine's eternal. O Deformity,Thy fairness is not like to Agripyne's,For dead, her beauty will no beauty have,But thy face looks most lovely in the grave.

Cypr. By this then it seems a thing impossible, to know when an Englishlady loves truly.

Agrip. Not so, for when her soul steals into her heart, and her heartleaps up to her eyes, and her eyes drop into her hands, then if she say, Here'smy hand! she's your own,—else never.

Cyp. Here's a pair of your prisoners, let's try their opinion.

Agrip. My kind prisoners, well encountered; the Prince of Cyprus hereand myself have been wrangling about a question of love: my lord of Orleans, youlook lean, and likest a lover—Whether is it more torment to love a lady andnever enjoy her, or always to enjoy a lady whom you cannot choose but hate?

Orle. To hold her ever in mine arms whom I loath in my heart, were someplague, yet the punishment were no more than to be enjoined to keep poison in myhand, yet never to taste it.

Agrip. But say you should be compelled to swallow the poison?

Orle. Then a speedy death would end a speeding misery. But to love alady and never enjoy her, oh it is not death, but worse than damnation; 'tishell, 'tis______

Agrip. No more, no more, good Orleans; nay then, I see my prisoner isin love too.

Cypr. Methinks, soldiers cannot fall into the fashion of love.

Agrip. Methinks a soldier is the most faithful lover of all men else;for his affection stands not upon compliment. His wooing is plain home-spunstuff; there's no outlandish thread in it, no rhetoric. A soldier casts nofigures to get his mistress' heart; his love is like his valour in the field,when he pays downright blows.

Gall. True, madam, but would you receive such payment?

Agrip. No, but I mean, I love a soldier best for his plain dealing.

Cypr. That's as good as the first.

Agrip. Be it so, that goodness I like: for what lady can abide to lovea spruce silken-face courtier, that stands every morning two or three hourslearning how to look by his glass, how to speak by his glass, how to sigh by hisglass, how to court his mistress by his glass? I would wish him no other plague,but to have a mistress as brittle as glass.

Gall. And that were as bad as the horn plague.

Cypr. Are any lovers possessed with this madness?

Agrip. What madmen are not possessed with this love? Yet by my troth,we poor women do but smile in our sleeves to see all this foppery: yet we alldesire to see our lovers attired gallantly, to hear them sing sweetly, to beholdthem dance comely and such like. But this apish monkey fashion of effeminateniceness, out upon it! Oh, I hate it worse than to be counted a scold.

Cypr. Indeed, men are most regarded, when they least regard themselves.

Gall. And women most honoured, when they show most mercy to theirlovers.

Orle. But is't not a miserable tyranny, to see a lady triumph in thepassions of a soul languishing through her cruelty?

Cypr. Methinks it is.

Gall. Methinks 'tis more than tyranny.

Agrip. So think not I; for as there is no reason to hate any that loveus, so it were madness to love all that do not hate us; women are createdbeautiful, only because men should woo them; for 'twere miserable tyranny toenjoin poor women to woo men: I would not hear of a woman in love, for myfather's kingdom.

Cypr. I never heard of any woman that hated love.

Agrip. Nor I: but we had all rather die than confess we love; our gloryis to hear men sigh whilst we smile, to kill them with a frowm, to strike themdead with a sharp eye, to make you this day wear a feather, and tomorrow a sicknightcap. Oh, why this is rare, there's a certain deity in this, when a lady bythe magic of her looks, can turn a man into twenty shapes.

Orle. Sweet friend, she speaks this but to torture me.

Gall. I'll teach thee how to plague her: love her not.

Agrip. Poor Orleans, how lamentably he looks: if he stay, he'll make mesurely love him for pure pity. I must send him hence, for of all sorts of love,I hate the French; I pray thee, sweet prisoner, entreat Lord Longaville to cometo me presently.

Orle. I will, and esteem myself more than happy, that you will employme. [Exit.

Agrip. Watch him, watch him for God's sake, if he sigh not or look notback.

Cypr. He does both: but what mystery lies in this?

Agrip. Nay, no mystery, 'tis as plain as Cupid's forehead: why this isas it should be.—"And esteem myself more than happy, that you will employme." My French prisoner is in love over head and ears.

Cypr. It's wonder how he 'scapes drowning.

Gall. With whom, think you?

Agrip. With his keeper, for a good wager: Ah, how glad is he to obey!And how proud am I to command in this empire of affection! Over him and suchspongy-livered youths, that lie soaking in love, I triumph more with mine eye,than ever he did over a soldier with his sword. Is't not a gallant victory forme to subdue my father's enemy with a look? Prince of Cyprus, you were best takeheed, how you encounter an English lady.

Cypr. God bless me from loving any of you, if all be so cruel.

Agrip. God bless me from suffering you to love me, if you be not soformable.

Cypr. Will you command me any service, as you have done Orleans?

Agrip. No other service but this, that, as Orleans, you love me, for noother reason, but that I may torment you.

Cypr. I will: conditionally, that in all company I may call you mytormentor.

Agrip. You shall: conditionally, that you never beg for mercy. Come, myLord of Galloway.

Gall. Come, sweet madam.

[Exeunt all except the PRINCE OF CYPRUS.

Cypr. The ruby-coloured portals of her speechWere closed by mercy: but upon her eye,Attired in frowns, sat murdering cruelty.

Re-enter AGRIPYNE and listens.

She's angry, that I durst so high aspire.O, she disdains that any stranger's breastshould be a temple for her deity:She's full of beauty, full of bitterness.Till now, I did not dally with love's fire:And when I thought to try his flames indeed,I burnt me even to cinders. O, my stars,Why from my native shore did your beams guide me,To make me dote on her that doth deride me?

[AGRIPYNE kneels: CYPRUS walks musing.

Agrip. Hold him in this mind, sweet Cupid, I conjure thee. O, what musicthese hey-hos make! I was about to cast my little self into a great love trancefor him, fearing his heart had been flint: but since I see 'tis pure virgin wax,he shall melt his bellyful: for now I know how to temper him.

[Exit; as she departs CYPRUS spies her.

Cypr. Never beg mercy? yet be my tormentor.I hope she heard me not: doubtless she did,And now will she insult upon my passions,And vex my constant love with mockeries.Nay, then I'll be mine own physician,And outface love, and make her think that IMourned thus, because I saw her standing by.What news, my Lord of Cornwall?

Enter CORNWALL.

Cornw. This fair prince,One of your countrymen, is come to court,A lusty gallant brave, in Cyprus' isle,With fifty bard horses prancing at his heels,Backed by as many strong-limbed Cypriots,All whom he keeps in pay: whose offered service,Our king with arms of gladness hath embraced.

Cypr. Born in the isle of Cyprus? what's his name?

Cornw. His servants call him Fortunatus' son.

Cypr. Rich Fortunatus' son? Is he arrived?

Enter LONGAVILLE, GALLOWAY, and CHESTER with jewels.

Longa. This he bestowed on me.

Chest. And this on me.

Gall. And this his bounteous hand enforced me take.

Longa. I prize this jewel at a hundred marks,Yet would he needs bestow this gift on me.

Cypr. My lords, whose hand hath been thus prodigal?

Gall. Your countryman, my lord, a Cypriot.

Longa. The gallant sure is all compact of gold,To every lady hath he given rich jewels,And sent to every servant in the courtTwenty fair English angels.

Cypr. This is rare.

Enter LINCOLN.

Linc. My lords, prepare yourselves for revelling,'Tis the king's pleasure that this day be spentIn royal pastimes, that this golden lord,For so all that behold him, christen him,May taste the pleasures of our English court.Here comes the gallant, shining like the sun.

Andel. For these your royal favours done to me,Being a poor stranger, my best powers shall prove,By acts of worth, the soundness of my love.

Athelst. Herein your love shall best set out itself,By staying with us: if our English isleHold any object welcome to your eyes,Do but make choice, and claim it as your prize.

[The KING and CYPRUS confer aside.

Andel. I thank your grace: would he durst keep his word,I know what I would claim. Tush, man, be bold,Were she a saint, she may be won with gold.

Cypr. 'Tis strange, I must confess, but in this pride,His father Fortunatus, if he live,consumes his life in Cyprus: still he spends,And still his coffers with abundance swell,But how he gets these riches none can tell.

[The KING and AGRIPYNE confer aside.

Athelst. Hold him in talk: come hither, Agripyne.

Cypr. But what enticed young Andelocia's soulTo wander hither?

Andel. That which did allureMy sovereign's son, the wonder of the place.

Agrip. This curious heap of wonders, which an EmpressGave him, he gave me, and by Venus' hand,The warlike Amorato needs would swear,He left his country Cyprus for my love.

Athelst. If by the sovereign magic of thine eye,Thou canst enchant his looks to keep the circlesOf thy fair cheeks, be bold to try their charms,Feed him with hopes, and find the royal vein,That leads this Cypriot to his golden mine.Here's music spent in vain, lords, fall to dancing.

Cypr. My fair tormentor, will you lend a hand?

Agrip. I'll try this stranger's cunning in a dance.

Andel. My cunning is but small, yet who'll not prove

To shame himself for such a lady's love?

Orle. These Cypriots are the devils that torture me.he courts her, and she smiles, but I am bornTo be her beauty's slave, and her love's scorn.

Andel. I shall never have the face to ask the question twice.

Agrip. What's the reason? Cowardliness or pride?

Andel. Neither: but 'tis the fashion of us Cypriots, both men andwomen, to yield at first assault, and we expect others should do the like.

Agrip. It's a sign, that either your women are very black, and are gladto be sped, or your men very fond, and will take no denial.

Andel. Indeed our ladies are not so fair as you.

Agrip. Butyour men more venturous at a breach than you, or else they are all dastardlysoldiers.

Andel. He that fights under these sweet colours, and yet turns coward,let him be shot to death with the terrible arrows of fair ladies' eyes.

Agrip. Doth my Spanish prisoner deny to dance? He has sworn to me by thecross of his pure Toledo, to be my servant: by that oath, my Castilian prisoner,I conjure you to show your cunning; though all your body be not free, I am sureyour heels are at liberty.

Athelst. The day grows old, and what remains unspent,Shall be consumed in banquets. Agripyne,Leave us a while, if Andelocia please,Go bear our beauteous daughter company.

And. Fortune, I thank thee: now thou smil'st on me.

[Exeunt AGRIPYNE, ANDELOCIA, and Ladies.

Athelst. This Cypriot bears a gallant princely mind.My lord, of what birth is your countryman?Think not, sweet prince, that I propound this question,To wrong you in your love to Agripyne:Our favours grace him to another end.Nor let the wings of your affection droop,Because she seems to shun love's gentle lure.Believe it on our word, her beauty's prizeOnly shall yield a conquest to your eyes.But tell me what's this Fortunatus' son?

Cypr. Of honourable blood, and more renownedIn foreign kingdoms, whither his proud spirit,Plumed with ambitious feathers, carries him,Than in his native country; but last dayThe father and the sons were, through their riots,Poor and disdained of all, but now they glisterMore bright than Midas: if some damnèd fiendFed not his bags, this golden pride would end.

Athelst. His pride we'll somewhat tame, and curb the headOf his rebellious prodigality:He hath invited us, and all our peers,To feast with him to-morrow; his provision,I understand, may entertain three kings.But Lincoln, let our subjects secretlyBe charged on pain of life that not a manSell any kind of fuel to his servants.

Cypr. This policy shall clip his golden wings,And teach his pride what 'tis to strive with kings.

Athelst. Withdraw awhile:

[Exeunt all except ATHELSTANE.None filled his hands with gold, for we set spies,To watch who fed his prodigality:He hung the marble bosom of our court,As thick with glist'ring spangles of pure gold,As e'er the spring hath stuck the earth with flowers.Unless he melt himself to liquid gold,Or be some god, some devil, or can transportA mint about him, by enchanted power,He cannot rain such showers. With his own handsHe threw more wealth about in every street,Than could be thrust into a chariot.He's a magician sure, and to some fiend,His soul by infernal covenants has he sold,Always to swim up to the chin in gold.Be what he can be, if those doting fires,Wherein he burns for Agripyne's love,Want power to melt from him this endless mine,Then like a slave we'll chain him in our tower,Where tortures shall compel his sweating handsTo cast rich heaps into our treasury. [Exit.

SCENE II.—The same.

Music sounding still; a curtain being drawn, ANDELOCIA is discoveredsleeping in AGRIPYNE'S lap; she has his purse, and she and another lady tieanother like it in its place, and then rise from him. Enter ATHELSTANE.

Agrip. I have found the sacred spring that never ebbs. Leave us:[Exit Lady.] But I'll not show't your majestyTill you have sworn by England's royal crown, To let me keep it.

Athelst. By my crown I swear,None but fair Agripyne the gem shall wear.

Agrip. Then is this mine: see, father, here's the fireWhose gilded beams still burn, this is the sunThat ever shines, the tree that never dies,Here grows the Garden of Hesperides;The outside mocks you, makes you think 'tis poor,But entering it, you find eternal store.

Athelst. Art sure of this? How didst thou drive it out?

Agrip. Fear no his waking yet, I made him drinkThat soporiferous juice which was composedTo make the queen, my mother, relish sleep,When her last sickness summoned her to Heaven.He sleeps profoundly: when his amorous eyesHad singed their wings in Cupid's wanton flames,I set him all on fire, and promised love,In pride whereof, he drew me forth this purse,And swore, by this he multiplied his gold.I tried and found it true: and secretlyCommanded music with her silver tongue,To chime soft lullabies into his soul,And whilst my fingers wantoned with his hair,T'entice the sleepy juice to charm his eyes,In all points was there made a purse, like his,Which counterfeit is hung in place of this.

Athelst. More than a second kingdom hast thou won.Leave him, that when he wakes he may suspect,Some else has robbed him; come, dear Agripyne,If this strange purse his sacred virtues hold,We'll circle England with a wall of gold. [Exeunt.

Shad. These English occupiers are mad Trojans: let a man pay them neverso much, they'll give him nothing but the bag. Since my master created mesteward over his fifty men, and his one-and-fifty horse, I have rid over muchbusiness, yet never was galled, I thank the destinies. Music? O delicate warble:O these courtiers are most sweet triumphant creatures! Seignior, sir, monsieur,sweet seignior: this is the language of the accomplishment. O delicious strings;these heavenly wire-drawers have stretched my master even out at length: yet atlength he must wake. Master?

Andel. Wake me not yet, my gentle Agripyne.

Shad. One word, sir, for the billets, and I vanish.

Andel. There's Heaven in these times: throw the musiciansA bounteous largesse of three hundred angels.

[ANDELOCIA starts up.

Shad. Why, sir, I have but ten pounds left.

Andel. Ha, Shadow? where's the Princess Agripyne?

Shad. I am not Apollo, I cannot reveal.

Andel. Was not the princess here, when thou cam'st in?

Shad. Here was no princess but my princely self.

Andel. In faith?

Shad. No, in faith, sir.

Andel. Where are you hid? where stand you wantoning? Not here? gone,i'faith? have you given me the slip? Well, 'tis but an amorous trick, and so Iembrace it: my horse, Shadow, how fares my horse?

Shad. Upon the best oats my under-steward can buy.

Andel. I mean, are they lusty, sprightly, gallant, wanton, fiery?

Shad. They are as all horses are, caterpillars to the commonwealth,they are ever munching: but, sir, for these billets, and these fagots andbavins?

Andel. 'Sheart, what billets, what fagots? dost make me a woodmonger?

Shad. No, sweet seignior, but you have bid the king and his peers todinner, and he has commanded that no woodmonger sell you a stick of wood, andthat no collier shall cozn you of your measure, but must tie up the mouth oftheir sacks, lest their coals kindle your choler.

Andel. Not a stick of wood? Some child of envy has buzzed thisstratagem into the king's ear, of purpose to disgrace me. I have invited hismajesty, and though it cost me a million, I'll feast him. Shadow, thou shalthire a hundred or two of carts, with them post to all the grocers in London, buyup all the cinnamon, cloves, nutmegs, liquorice and all other spices, that haveany strong heart, and with them make fires to prepare our cookery.Ere Fortunatus' son look red with shame,He'll dress a king's feast in spicèd flame.

Shad. This device, sir, will be somewhat akin to Lady Pride, 'twill askcost.

Andel. Go buy with it a chain and hang thyself.Now think I on my father's prophecy.Tell none, quoth he, the virtue, if you do,Much shame, much grief, much danger follows you.With tears I credit his divinity.O fingers, were you upright justices,You would tear out mine eyes! had not they gazedOn the frail colour of a painted cheek,None had betrayed me: henceforth I'll defyAll beauty, and will call a lovely eye,A sun whose scorching beams burn up our joys,Or turn them black like Ethiopians.O women, wherefore are you born men's woe,Why are your faces framed angelical?Your hearts of sponges, soft and smooth in show,But touched, with poison they do overflow.Had sacred wisdom been my father's fate,He had died happy, I lived fortunate.Shadow, bear this to beauteous Agripyne,With it this message, tell her, I'll reproveHer covetous sin the less, because for gold,I see that most men's souls too cheap are sold.

Shad. I'll go hence, because you send me; but I'll go weeping hence,for grief that I must turn villain as many do, and leave you when you are up tothe ears in adversity.

[Exit.

Andel. She hath robbed me, and now I'll play the thief,Ay, steal from hence to Cyprus, for black shameHere, through my riots, brands my lofty name.I'll sell this pride for help to bear me thither,So pride and beggary shall walk together.This world is but a school of villany,Therefore I'll rob my brother, not of gold,Nor of his virtues, virtue none will steal—But, if I can, I'll steal his wishing hat,And with that, wandering round about the world,I'll search all corners to find Misery,And where she dwells, I'll dwell, languish and die. [Exit.

ACT THE FOURTH.

CHORUS. Gentles, if e'er you have beheld the passions,The combats of his soul, who being a king,By some usurping hand hath been deposedFrom all his royalties: even such a soul,Such eyes, such heart swol'n big with sighs and tears,The star-crossed son of Fortunatus wears.His thoughts crowned him a monarch in the morn,Yet now he's bandied by the seas in scornFrom wave to wave: his golden treasure's spoilMakes him in desperate language to entreatThe winds to spend their fury on his life:But they, being mild in tyranny, or scorningTo triumph in a wretch's funeral,Toss him to Cyprus. Oh, what treacheryCannot this serpent gold entice us to?He robs his brother of the Soldan's prize,And having got his wish, the wishing hat,He does not, as he vowed, seek misery,But hopes by that to win his purse again,And in that hope from Cyprus is he fled.If your swift thoughts clap on their wonted wings,In Genoa may you take this fugitive,Where having cozened many jewellers,To England back he comes; step but to court,And there disguised you find him bargainingFor jewels with the beauteous Agripyne,Who wearing at her side the virtuous purse,He clasps her in his arms, and as a raven,Griping the tender-hearted nightingale,So flies he with her, wishing in the airTo be transported to some wilderness:Imagine this the place; see, here they come!Since they themselves have tongues, mine shall be dumb.

[Exit.

SCENE I.—A Wilderness.

Enter ANDELOCIA with the wishing hat on, and dragging AGRIPYNE by thehand.

AGRIP. What devil art thou that affright'st me thus,Haling a princess from her father's court,To spoil her in this savage wilderness?

Andel. Indeed the devil and the pick-purse should always fly together,for they are sworn brothers: but Madam Covetousness, I am neither a devil as youcall me, nor a jeweller as I call myself; no, nor a juggler,—yet ere youand I part, we'll have some legerdemain together. Do you know me?

Agrip. I am betrayed: this is the Cypriot.Forgive me, 'twas not I that changed thy purse,But Athelstane my father; send me home,And here's thy purse again: here are thy jewels,And I in satisfaction of all wrongs—

Andel. Talk not you of satisfaction, this is some recompense, that Ihave you. 'Tis not the purse I regard: put it off, and I'll mince it as small aspie meat. The purse? hang the purse: were that gone, I can make another, andanother, and another, ay, and another: 'tis not the purse I care for, but thepurser, you, ay you. Is't not a shame that a king's daughter, a fair lady, alady not for lords, but for monarchs, should for gold sell her love, and whenshe has her own asking, and that there stands nothing between, then to cheatyour sweetheart? O fie, fie, a she cony-catcher? You must be dealt fondly with.

Andel. Nay God's lid, y'are not gone so: set your heart at rest, for Ihave set up my rest, that except you can run swifter than a hart, home you gonot. What pains shall I lay upon you? Let me see: I could serve you now but aslippery touch: I could get a young king or two, or three, of you, and then sendyou home, and bid their grandsire king nurse them: I could pepper you, but Iwill not.

Agrip. O, do not violate my chastity.

Andel. No, why I tell you I am not given to the flesh, though I savourin your nose a little of the devil, I could run away else, and starve you here.

Agrip. If I must die, doom me some easier death.

Andel. Or transform you, because you love picking, into a squirrel, andmake you pick out a poor living here among the nut trees: but I will notneither.

Agrip. What will my gentle Andelocia do?

Andel. Oh, now you come to your old bias of cogging.

Agrip. I pray thee, Andelocia, let me go:Send me to England, and by Heaven I swear,Thou from all kings on earth my love shalt bear.

Andel. Shall I in faith?

Agrip. In faith, in faith thou shalt.

Andel. Hear, God a mercy: now thou shalt not go.

Agrip. Oh God.

Andel. Nay, do you hear, lady? Cry not, y'are best; no nor curse menot. If you think but a crabbed thought of me, the spirit that carried you inmine arms through the air, will tell me all; therefore set your Sunday faceupon't. Since you'll love me, I'll love you, I'll marry you, and lie with you,and beget little jugglers: marry, home you get not. England, you'll say, isyours: but, Agripyne, love me, and I will make the whole world thine.

Agrip. I care not for the world, thou murd'rest me;Between my sorrow, and the scalding sunI faint, and quickly will my life be done,My mouth is like a furnace, and dry heatDrinks up my blood. O God, my heart will burst,I die, unless some moisture quench my thirst.

Andel. 'Sheart, now I am worse than ere I was before:For half the world I would not have her die.Here's neither spring nor ditch, nor rain, nor dew,Nor bread nor drink: my lovely Agripyne,Be comforted, see here are apple trees.

Andel. O me, what hell is this? fiends, tempt me not.Thou glorious devil, hence. O now I see,This fruit is thine, thou hast deformèd me:Idiot, avoid, thy gifts I loathe to taste.Away: since I am entered madness' school,As good to be a beast, as be a fool.Away, why tempt you me? some powerful graceCome and redeem me from this hideous place.

Fortune. To her hath Andelocia all his lifeSworn fealty; would'st thou forsake her now?

Fortune. Thou didst behold her at thy father's death,When thou in scorn didst violate his will;Thou didst behold her, when thy stretched-out armCatched at the highest bough, the loftiest vice,The fairest apple, but the foulest price;Thou didst behold her, when thy liquorish eyeFed on the beauty of fair Agripyne;Because th' hadst gold, thou thought'st all women thine.When look'st thou off from her? for they whose soulsStill revel in the nights of vanity,On the fair cheeks of Vice still fix their eye.Because her face doth shine, and all her bosomBears silver moons, thou wast enamoured of her.But hadst thou upward looked, and seen these shames,Or viewed her round about, and in this glassSeen idiots' faces, heads of devils and hell,And read this "Ha, ha, he," this merry story,Thou wouldst have loathed her: where, by loving her,Thou bear'st this face, and wear'st this ugly head,And if she once can bring thee to this place,Loud sounds these "Ha, ha, he!" She'll laugh apace.

Andel. O, re-transform me to a glorious shape,And I will learn how I may love to hate her.

Fortune. I cannot re-transform thee, woo this woman.

Andel. This woman? wretched is my state, when I,To find out wisdom, to a fool must fly.

Fortune. Fool, clear thine eyes, this is bright Aretë,This is poor virtue, care not how the worldDoth crown her head, the world laughs her to scorn,Yet "SIBI SAPIT," Virtue knows her worth.Run after her, she'll give thee these and these,Crowns and bay-garlands, honour's victories:Serve her, and she will fetch thee pay from Heaven,Or give thee some bright office in the stars.

Andel. Immortal Aretë, Virtue divine: [Kneels.O smile on me, and I will still be thine.

Virtue. Smile thou on me, and I will still be thine:Though I am jealous of thy apostasy,I'll entertain thee: here, come taste this tree,Here's physic for thy sick deformity.

Andel. 'Tis bitter: this fruit I shall ne'er digest.

Virtue. Try once again, the bitterness soon dies.

Vice. Mine's sweet, taste mine.

Virtue. But being down 'tis sour,And mine being down has a delicious taste.The path that leads to Virtue's court is narrow,Thorny and up a hill, a bitter journey,But being gone through, you find all heavenly sweets,The entrance is all flinty, but at th' end,To towers of pearl and crystal you ascend.

Fortune. That shall be tried, take fruit from both these trees,By help of them, win both thy purse and hat,I will instruct thee how, for on my wingsTo England shalt thou ride; thy virtuous brotherIs, with that Shadow who attends on thee,In London, there I'll set thee presently.But if thou lose our favours once again,To taste her sweets, those sweets must prove thy bane.

Linc. No other prison held her but your court,There in her chamber hath she hid herselfThese two days, only to shake off that fear,Which her late violent rapture cast upon her.

Cypr. Where hath the beauteous Agripyne been?

Agrip. In Heaven or hell, in or without the world,I know not which, for as I oft have seen,When angry Thamesis hath curled her locks,A whirlwind come, and from her frizzled brows,Snatch up a handful of those sweaty pearls,That stood upon her forehead, which awhile,Being by the boist'rous wind hung in the air,At length hath flung them down and raised a storm,—Even with such fury was I wherried up,And by such force held prisoner in the clouds,And thrown by such a tempest down again.

Cornw. Some soul is damned in hell for this black deed.

Agrip. I have the purse safe, and anon your graceShall hear the wondrous history at full.

Athelst. Then shall thy choice end in this Cyprus prince.Before the sun shall six times more arise,His royal marriage will we solemnise.Proclaim this honoured match! Come, Agripyne,I am glad th' art here, more glad the purse is mine.

Agrip. The fairest fruit that ever I beheld.Damasco apples, wherefore are they good?

Longa. What is your price of half a score of these?

Both. Half a score, half a score? dat is doos many, mester.

Longa. Ay, ay, ten, half a score, that's five and five.

Andel. Feeve and feeve? By my trat and as Creeze save me la, I cannottell wat be de price of feeve and feeve, but 'tis tree crown for one peepin, datis de preez if you take 'em.

Shad. Ay fat, 'tis no less for Tamasco.

Agrip. Three crowns for one? what wondrous virtues have they?

Shad. O, 'tis feene Tamasco apple, and shall make you a great tealwise, and make you no fool, and make feene memory.

Andel. And make dis fash be more fair and amiable, and make dis eyeslook always lovely, and make all de court and country burn in desire to kiss dinone sweet countenance.

Montr. Apples to make a lady beautiful?Madam, that's excellent.

Agrip. These Irishmen,Some say, are great dissemblers, and I fearThese two the badge of their own country wear.

Andel. By my trat, and by Saint Patrick's hand, and as Creez save mela, 'tis no dissembler: de Irishman now and den cut di countryman's throat, butyet in fayt he love di countryman, 'tis no dissembler: dis feene Tamasco applecan make di sweet countenance, but I can take no less but three crowns for one,I wear out my naked legs and my foots, and my tods and run hidder and didder toTamasco for dem.

Shad. As Creez save me la, he speaks true: Peeps feene.

Agrip. I'll try what power lies in Damasco fruit.Here are ten crowns for three. So fare you well.

Montr. Lord Longaville, buy some.

Longa. I buy? not I:Hang them, they are toys; come, madam, let us go.

[Exeunt AGRIPYNE, LONGAVILLE and MONTROSE.

Both. Saint Patrick and Saint Peter, and all de holy angels look upondat fash and make it fair.

Amp. Mock me no longerWith idle apparitions: many a landHave I with weary feet and a sick soulMeasured to find thee; and when thou art found,My greatest grief is that thou art not lost.Yet lost thou art, thy fame, thy wealth are lost,Thy wits are lost, and thou hast in their stead,With shame and cares, and misery crowned thy head.That Shadow that pursues thee, filled mine earsWith sad relation of thy wretchedness,Where is the purse, and where my wishing hat?

Andel. Where, and where? are you created constable? You stand so muchupon interrogatories. The purse is gone, let that fret you, and the hat is gone,let that mad you: I run thus through all trades to overtake them, if you bequiet, follow me, and help, if not, fly from me, and hang yourself. Wilt thoubuy any pippins? [Exit.

Amp. Oh, how I grieve, to see him thus transformed?Yet from the circles of my jealous eyesHe shall not start, till he have repossessedThose virtuous jewels, which found once again,More cause they ne'er shall give me to complain,Their worth shall be consumed in murdering flames,And end my grief, his riot, and our shames. [Exit.

ACT THE FIFTH.

SCENE I.—London. The Court of Athelstane.

Enter ATHELSTANE, followed by AGRIPYNE, MONTROSE, and LONGAVILLEwith horns; then LINCOLN and CORNWALL.

ATHELST. In spite of sorcery try once again,Try once more in contempt of all damned spells.

Agrip. Your majesty fights with no mortal power.Shame, and not conquest, hangs upon this strife.O, touch me not, you add but pain to pain,The more you cut, the more they grow again.

Linc. Is there no art to conjure down this scorn?I ne'er knew physic yet against the horn.

Cypr. Then I defy thee, Love; vain hopes, adieu, You have mocked me long; in scorn I'll now mock you.I came to see how the Lord LongavilleWas turned into a monster, and I findAn object, which both strikes me dumb and blind.To-morrow should have been our marriage morn,But now my bride is shame, thy bridegroom scorn.O tell me yet, is there no art, no charms,No desperate physic for this desperate wound?

Cypr. Adieu, I would say more, had I a tongueAble to help his master: mighty king,I humbly take my leave; to Cyprus I;My father's son must all such shame defy. [Exit.

Orle. So doth not Orleans; I defy all thoseThat love not Agripyne, and him defy,That dares but love her half so well as I.O pardon me! I have in sorrow's jailBeen long tormented, long this mangled bosomHath bled, and never durst expose her wounds,Till now, till now, when at thy beauteous feetI offer love and life. Oh, cast an eyeOf mercy on me, this deformèd faceCannot affright my soul from loving thee.

Agrip. Talk not of love, good Orleans, but of hate.

Orle. What sentence will my love pronounce on me?

Gall. Will Orleans then be mad? O gentle friend.

Orle. O gentle, gentle friend, I am not mad:He's mad, whose eyes on painted cheeks do doat,O Galloway, such read beauty's book by rote.He's mad, that pines for want of a gay flower,Which fades when grief doth blast, or sickness lower,Which heat doth wither, and white age's frostNips dead: such fairness, when 'tis found, 'tis lost.I am not mad. for loving Agripyne,My love looks on her eyes with eyes divine;I doat on the rich brightness of her mind,That sacred beauty strikes all other blind.O make me happy then, since my desiresAre set a burning by love's purest fires.

Agrip. Lock me in some cave,Where staring wonder's eye shall not be guiltyTo my abhorrèd looks, and I will dieTo thee, as full of love as misery.

Athelst. I am amazed and mad, some speckled soul Lies pawned for this in hell, without redemption,Some fiend deludes us all.

Cornw. O unjust Fates,Why do you hide from us this mystery?

Linc. My Lord Montrose, how long have your brows wornThis fashion? these two feather-springs of horn?

Montr. An Irish kerne sold me Damasco applesSome two hours since, and like a credulous fool—He swearing to me that they had this powerTo make me strong in body, rich in mind—I did believe his words, tasted his fruit,And since have been attired in this disguise.

Longa. I fear that villain hath beguiled me too.

Cornw. Nay before God he has not cozened you,You have it soundly.

Longa. Me he made believe,One apple of Damasco would inspireMy thoughts with wisdom, and upon my cheeksWould cast such beauty that each lady's eye,Which looked on me, should love me presently.

Agrip. Desire to look more fair, makes me more fool,Those apples did entice my wandering eye,To be enamoured of deformity.

Athelst. This proves that true, which oft I have heard in schools,Those that would seem most wise, do turn most fools.

Athelst. Thrice have we pared them off, but with fresh pain,In compass of a thought they rise again.

Andel. It's true, 'tis no easy mattra, to pull horn off, 'tis easy topull on, but hard for pull off; some horn be so good fellow, he will stillinhabit in de man's pate, but 'tis all one for tat, I shall snap away all dis.Madam, trust dis down into your little belly.

Agrip. Father, I am in fear to taste his physic.First let him work experiments on those.

Andel. I'll sauce you for your infidelity.In no place can I spy my wishing hat. [Aside.

Andel. So, taka dis hand: winck now prea artely with your two nyes: whyso.Would I were with my brother Ampedo!

[Exit with AGRIPYNE.

Agrip. Help, father, help, I am hurried hence perforce.

Athelst. Draw weapons, where's the princess? follow him,Stay the French doctor, stay the doctor there. [CORNWALL and others run out, and presently re-enter.

Cornw. Stay him! 's heart, who dare stay him? 'tis the devilIn likeness of a Frenchman, of a doctor.Look how a rascal kite having swept upA chicken in his claws, so flies this hell-houndIn th' air with Agripyne in his arms.

Orle. Mount every man upon his swiftest horse. Fly several ways, hecannot bear her far.

Gall. These paths we'll beat.

[Exeunt GALLOWAY and ORLEANS

Linc. And this way shall be mine. [Exit.

Cornw. This way, my liege, I'll ride. [Exit.

Athelst. And this way I:No matter which way, to seek misery. [Exit.

Longa. I can ride no way, to out-run my shame.

Montr. Yes, Longaville, let's gallop after too;Doubtless this doctor was that Irish devil,That cozened us, the medicine which he gave usTasted like his Damasco villany.To horse, to horse, if we can catch this fiend,Our forkèd shame shall in his heart blood end.

Longa. O how this mads me, that all tongues in scorn,Which way soe'er I ride, cry, 'ware the horn!

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.—An open Space near London: a Prison and a Pair of Stocks in thebackground.

Enter ANDELOCIA with AGRIPYNE, AMPEDO and SHADOW following.

Agrip. O gentle Andelocia, pity me,Take off this infamy, or take my life.

Andel. Your life? you think then that I am a true doctor indeed, thattie up my living in the knots of winding sheets: your life? no, keep your life,but deliver your purse: you know the thief's salutation,—"Stand anddeliver." So, this is mine, and these yours: I'll teach you to live by the sweatof other men's brows.

Andel. Andelocia is a nettle: if you touch him gently, he'll sting you.

Shad. Or a rose: if you pull his sweet stalk he'll prick you.

Andel. Therefore not a word; go, trudge to your father. Sigh not foryour purse, money may be got by you, as well as by the little Welshwoman inCyprus, that had but one horn in her head; you have two, and perhaps you shallcast both. As you use me, mark those words well, "as you use me," nay, y'arebest fly, I'll not endure one word more. Yet stay too, because you entreat me sogently, and that I'll make some amends to your father,—although I care notfor any king in Christendom, yet hold you, take this apple, eat it as you go tocourt, and your horns shall play the cowards and fall from you.

Agrip. O gentle Andelocia.

Andel. Nay, away, not a word.

Shad. Ha, ha, ha! 'Ware horns!

[Exit AGRIPYNE, weeping.

Andel. Why dost thou laugh, Shadow?

Shad. To see what a horn plague follows covetousness and pride.

Amp. Brother, what mysteries lie in all this?

Andel. Tricks, Ampedo, tricks, devices, and mad hieroglyphics, mirth,mirth, and melody. O, there's more music in this, than all the gamut airs, andsol fa res, in the world; here's the purse, and here's the hat: because youshall be sure I'll not start, wear you this, you know its virtue. If dangerbeset you, fly and away: a sort of broken-shinned limping-legged jades runhobbling to seek us. Shadow, we'll for all this have one fit of mirth more, tomake us laugh and be fat.

Shad. And when we are fat, master, we'll do as all gluttons do, laughand lie down.

Shad. I'll go to court in this attire, for apparel is but the shadow ofa man, but shadow is the substance of his apparel. [Exit SHADOW.

Andel. Away, away, and meet me presently.

Amp. I had more need to cry away to thee.Away, away with this wild lunacy,Away with riots.

Andel. Away with your purity, brother, y'are an ass. Why doth thispurse spit out gold but to be spent? why lives a man in this world, to dwell inthe suburbs of it, as you do? Away, foreign simplicity, away: are not eyes madeto see fair ladies? hearts to love them? tongues to court them, and hands tofeel them? Out, you stock, you stone, you log's end: Are not legs made to dance,and shall mine limp up and down the world after your cloth-stocking-heels? Youhave the hat, keep it. Anon I'll visit your virtuous countenance again; adieu!Pleasure is my sweet mistress, I wear her love in my hat, and her soul in myheart: I have sworn to be merry, and in spite of Fortune and the black-browedDestinies, I'll never be sad. [Exit.

Amp. Go, fool; in spite of mirth, thou shalt be sad.I'll bury half thy pleasures in a graveOf hungry flames; this fire I did ordainTo burn both purse and hat: as this doth perish,So shall the other; count what good and badThey both have wrought, the good is to the illAs a small pebble to a mighty hill.Thy glory and thy mischiefs here shall burn;Good gifts abused to man's confusion turn.

Enter LONGAVILLE and MONTROSE with Soldiers.

Longa. This is his brother: soldiers, bind his arms.

Montr. Bind arms and legs, and hale the fiend away.

Amp. Uncivil: wherefore must I taste your spite?

Longa. Art thou not one of Fortunatus' sons?

Amp. I am, but he did never do you wrong.

Longa. The devil thy brother has; villain, look here.

Montr. Where is the beauteous purse and wishing hat?

Amp. My brother Andelocia has the purse,This way he'll come anon to pass to court.Alas, that sin should make men's hearts so bold,To kill their souls for the base thirst of gold.The wishing hat is burnt.

Montr. Drag him to yonder tower, there shackle him,And in a pair of stocks lock up his heels,And bid your wishing cap deliver you.Give us the purse and hat, we'll set thee free,Else rot to death and starve.

Amp. Oh tyranny, you need not scorn the badge which you did bear:Beasts would you be, though horns you did not wear.

Montr. Drag hence the cur: come, noble Longaville,One's sure, and were the other fiend as fast,Their pride should cost their lives: their purse and hatShall both be ours, we'll share them equally.

Amp. Thy riot and the wrong of these two lords,Who causeless thus do starve me in this prison.

Longa. Strive not y'are best, villains, lift in his legs.

Andel. Traitors to honour, what do you intend?

Longa. That riot shall in wretchedness have end.Question thy brother with what cost he's fed,And so assure thou shalt be banqueted.

[Exeunt LONGAVILLE and MONTROSE.

Amp. In want, in misery, in woe and care,Poor Ampedo his fill hath surfeited:My want is famine, bolts my misery,My care and woe should be thy portion.

Andel. Give me that portion, for I have a heartShall spend it freely, and make bankruptThe proudest woe that ever wet man's eyes.Care, with a mischief! wherefore should I care?Have I rid side by side by mighty kings,Yet be thus bridled now? I'll tear these fetters,Murder! cry, murder! Ampedo, aloud.To bear this scorn our fortunes are too proud.

Amp. O folly, thou hast power to make flesh glad,When the rich soul in wretchedness is clad.

Andel. Peace, fool, am I not Fortune's minion?These bands are but one wrinkle of her frown,This is her evening mask, her next morn's eyeShall overshine the sun in majesty.

Amp. But this sad night will make an end of me Brother, farewell; grief, famine, sorrow, want, Have made an end of wretched Ampedo.

Andel. Where is the wishing hat?

Amp. Consumed in fire.

Andel. Accursèd be those hands that did destroy it; That would redeem us, did we now enjoy it.

Amp. Wanton, farewell! I faint, Death's frozen hand Congeals life's little river in my breast.No man before his end is truly blest. [Dies.

Andel. O miserable, miserable soul!Thus a foul life makes death to look more foul.

Re-enter LONGAVILLE and MONTROSE with a halter.

Longa. Thus shall this golden purse divided be,One day for you, another day for me.

Montr. Of days anon, say, what determine you,Shall they have liberty, or shall they die?

Longa. Die sure: and see, I think the elder's dead.

Andel. Ay, murderers, he is dead. O sacred Wisdom,Had Fortunatus been enamourèdOf thy celestial beauty, his two sonsHad shined like two bright suns.

Longa. Pull hard, Montrose.

Andel. Come you to strangle me? are you the hangman?Hell-hounds, y'are damned for this impiety.Fortune, forgive me! I deserve thy hate;Myself have made myself a reprobate.Virtue, forgive me! for I have transgressedAgainst thy laws; my vows are quite forgot,And therefore shame is fallen to my sin's lot.Riches and knowledge are two gifts divine.They that abuse them both as I have done,To shame, to beggary, to hell must run.O conscience, hold thy sting, cease to afflict me.Be quick, tormentors, I desire to die;No death is equal to my misery.Cyprus, vain world and vanity, farewell.Who builds his Heaven on earth, is sure of hell.

Fortune. Stand not amazed, you gods of earth, at this,She that arresteth these two fools is Vice,They have broke Virtue's laws, Vice is her sergeant,Her jailer and her executioner.Look on those Cypriots, Fortunatus' sons,They and their father were my minions,My name is Fortune.

All. O dread deity!

Fortune. Kneel not to me: if Fortune list to frown,You need not fall down, for she'll spurn you down;Arise! but, fools, on you I'll triumph thus:What have you gained by being covetous?This prodigal purse did Fortune's bounteous handBestow on them, their riots made them poor,And set these marks of miserable deathOn all their pride, the famine of base goldHath made your souls to murder's hands be sold,Only to be called rich. But, idiots, seeThe virtues to be fled, Fortune hath caused it so;Those that will all devour, must all forego.

Athelst. Most sacred Goddess!

Fortune. Peace, you flatterer.Thy tongue but heaps more vengeance on thy head.Fortune is angry with thee, in thee burnsA greedy covetous fire, in AgripynePride like a monarch revels, and those sinsHave led you blind-fold to your former shames,But Virtue pardoned you, and so doth Fortune.

Athelst. and Agrip. All thanks to both your sacred deities.

Fortune. As for these metal-eaters, these base thieves,Who rather than they would be counted poor,Will dig through hell for gold,—you were forgivenBy Virtue's general pardon; her broad sealGave you your lives, when she took off your horns.Yet having scarce one foot out of the jail,You tempt damnation by more desperate means,You both are mortal, and your pains shall ringThrough both your ears, to terrify your souls,As please the judgment of this mortal king.

Athelst. Fair Empress of the world, since you resignYour power to me, this sentence shall be mine:Thou shalt be tortured on a wheel to death,Thou with wild horses shalt be quarterèd.

[Points to MONTROSE and LONGAVILLE.

Vice. Ha, ha, weak judge, weak judgment; I reverseThat sentence, for they are my prisoners.Embalm the bodies of those Cypriots,And honour them with princely burial.For those do as you please; but for these two,I kiss you both, I love you, y'are my minions.Untie their bands, Vice doth reprieve you both.I set you free.

Both. Thanks, gracious deity.

Vice. Begone, but you in liberty shall findMore bondage than in chains; fools, get you hence,Both wander with tormented conscience.

Longa. O horrid judgment, that's the hell indeed.

Montr. Come, come, our death ne'er ends if conscience bleed.

Both. O miserable, miserable men!

[Exeunt LONGAVILLE and MONTROSE.

Fortune. Fortune triumphs at this, yet to appearAll like myself, that which from those I took,King Athelstane, I will bestow on thee,And in it the old virtue I infuse;But, king, take heed how thou my gifts dost use.England shall ne'er be poor, if England striveRather by virtue than by wealth to thrive.

Fortune. She that hath conquered thee: how dar'st thou come,Thus triched in gaudy feathers, and thus guardedWith crownèd kings and Muses, when thy foeHath trod thus on thee, and now triumphs so?Where's virtuous Ampedo? See, he's her slave;For following thee, this recompense they have.

Virtue. Is Ampedo her slave? Why, that's my glory.The idiot's cap I once wore on my head,Did figure him; those that like him do muffleVirtue in clouds, and care not how she shine,I'll make their glory like to his decline.He made no use of me, but like a miser,Locked up his wealth in rusty bars of sloth;His face was beautiful, but wore a mask,And in the world's eyes seemed a blackamoor:So perish they that so keep Virtue poor.

Fortune. Thine own self loves thyself: why on the headsOf Agripyne, Montrose, and Longaville,—English, Scot, French — did Vice clap ugly horns,But to approve that English, French and Scot,And all the world else, kneel and honour Vice;But in no country, Virtue is of price!

Virtue. Yes, in all countries Virtue is of price,In every kingdom some diviner breastIs more enamoured of me than the rest.Have English, Scot and French bowed knees to thee?Why that's my glory too, for by their shame,Men will abhor thee and adore my name.Fortune, thou art too weak, Vice, th'art a foolTo fight with me; I suffered you awhileT'eclipse my brightness, but I now will shine,And make you swear your beauty's base to mine.

Fortune. Thou art too insolent; see, here's a courtOf mortal judges; let's by them be tried,Which of us three shall most be deified.

Vice. I am content.

Fortune. And I.

Virtue. So am not I.My judge shall be your sacred deity.

Vice. O miserable me, I am undone.

[Exit VICE and her train.

All. O stop the horrid monster.

Virtue. Let her run.Fortune, who conquers now?

Fortune. Virtue, I see,Thou wilt triumph both over her and me.

All. Empress of Heaven and earth.

Fortune. Why do you mock me?Kneel not to me, to her transfer your eyes,There sits the Queen of Chance, I bend my kneesLower than yours. Dread goddess, 'tis most meetThat Fortune fall down at thy conquering feet.Thou sacred Empress that command 'st the Fates,Forgive what I have to thy handmaid done,And at thy chariot wheels Fortune shall run,And be thy captive, and to thee resignAll powers which Heaven's large patent have made mine.

Virtue. Fortune, th'art vanquished. Sacred deity,O now pronounce who wins the victory,And yet that sentence needs not, since alone,Your virtuous presence Vice hath overthrown,Yet to confirm the conquest on your side,Look but on Fortunatus and his sons;Of all the wealth those gallants did possess,Only poor Shadow is left, comfortless:Their glory's faded and their golden pride.

Shad. Only poor Shadow tells how poor they died.

Virtue. All that they had, or mortal men can have,Sends only but a Shadow from the grave.Virtue alone lives still, and lives in you;I am a counterfeit, you are the true;I am a shadow, at your feet I fall,Begging for these, and these, myself and all.All these that thus do kneel before your eyes,Are shadows like myself: dread nymph, it liesIn you to make us substances. O do it!Virtue I am sure you love, she wooes you to it.I read a verdict in your sun-like eyes,And this it is: Virtue the victory.

All. All loudly cry, Virtue the victory!

Fortune. Virtue the victory! for joy of this,Those self-same hymns which you to Fortune sungLet them be now in Virtue's honour rung.

SONG.

Virtue smiles: cry holiday, Dimples on her cheeks do dwell, Virtue frowns, cry welladay, Her love is Heaven, her hate is hell. Since Heaven and hell obey her power, Tremble when her eyes do lower. Since Heaven and hell her power obey, Where she smiles, cry holiday. Holiday with joy we cry, And bend, and bend, and merrily, Sing hymns to Virtue's deity: Sing hymns to Virtue's deity.

As they are about to depart, enter Two Old Men.

THE EPILOGUE AT COURT.

1st O. Man. Nay stay, poor pilgrims, when I entered firstThe circle of this bright celestial sphere,I wept for joy, now I could weep for fear.

2nd O. Man. I fear we all like mortal men shall prove Weak, not in love, but in expressing love.

1st. O. Man. Let every one beg once more on his knee,One pardon for himself, and one for me;For I enticed you hither. O dear Goddess,Breathe life in our numbed spirits with one smile,And from this cold earth, we with lively souls,Shall rise like men new-born, and make Heaven soundWith hymns sung to thy name, and prayers that weMay once a year so oft enjoy this sight,Till these young boys change their curled locks to white,And when gray-wingèd age sits on their heads,That so their children may supply their steads,And that Heaven's great arithmetician,Who in the scales of number weighs the world,May still to forty-two add one year more,And still add one to one, that went before,And multiply four tens by many a ten:To this I cry, Amen.